Barbarians si All Blacks deschid balul in Europa.

In fapt avant-premiera turneelor din noiembrie este Japonia-Australia, vizibila maine de la ora 8,40 (Ro).

Traditionala intalnire Barbarians - All Blacks care se disputa neregulat dar in Europa (mai precis in insula britanica) are deja o istorie. In ultimele 10 partide, Baa-Baas au invins de doua ori: o data la Cardiff in 1973 (23-11) si, mai recent, in 2009 (25-18) la Londra.

De data asta se joaca de Twickenham, sambata de la ora 18,00 (Ro) in arbitrajul lui Nigel Owens. 

Noua Zeelanda aduce in teren mai multi jucatori de origina Maori decat in formula standard de echipa: 15 David Havili, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Seta Tamanivalu, 10 Beauden Barrett (capitan), 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Kane Hames;

Rezerve: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Matt Duffie.

Barbarians este dominata de jucatori neo-zeelandezi, unii dintre ei incercati deja in formula All Blacks: Julian Savea, Richie Mo'unga (revelatia sezonului la Crusaders) si adversar direct al lui Beauden Barrett), Steven Luatua dar si vitezistul flanker sud-african Kwagga Smith sau consacratul taloner Adriaan Strauss, retras din formula Springboks.

Barbarians: 15 George Bridge, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Vince Aso, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Andy Ellis (capitan), 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Atu Moli, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Jacques van Rooyen;
Rezerve: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Willie Britz, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Dillon Hunt.

Baa Baas vs All Blacks , Londra 2008. Rezumat