[ login or create an account ]
|

All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today named the team to play the Barbarians at Twickenham, London, on Saturday 5 December, in the final match of the All Blacks Telecom Northern Tour.
Starting XV
1. Wyatt Crockett 2. Corey Flynn 3. John Afoa 4. Jason Eaton 5. Anthony Boric 6. Liam Messam 7. Richie McCaw 8. Rodney So'oialo 9. Brendon Leonard 10. Stephen Donald 11. Zac Guildford 12. Luke McAlister 13. Tamati Ellison 14. Ben Smith 15. Cory Jane
Reserves:
16. Andrew Hore 17. Neemia Tialata 18. Adam Thomson 19. Tanerau Latimer 20. Jimmy Cowan 21. Mike Delany 22. Sitiveni Sivivatu In the starting XV, the front row sees Wyatt Crockett come in at loosehead prop for his third start of the Telecom Northern Tour, with Corey Flynn at hooker and John Afoa at tighthead prop. Jason Eaton and Anthony Boric make up the second row, while Liam Messam is at blindside flanker, Richie McCaw, who played for the Barbarians last year, will again captain the side from openside flanker and Rodney So'oialo is at number eight.
In the backs, Brendon Leonard starts at halfback, Stephen Donald, who has been in every playing 22 on tour, starts at first five-eighth, with Luke McAlister, who is well known to English rugby fans from his time at Sale, making his second start of the tour at second five-eighth. McAlister is paired with Tamati Ellison at centre, with Ben Smith getting his second start on the right wing, Zac Guildford is on the left wing, and Cory Jane, starting in his fifth tour match, is at fullback.
On the reserves bench, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson and Tanerau Latimer will cover the forwards, with Jimmy Cowan, Mike Delany and Sitiveni Sivivatu the back reserves.
All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: "A match against the Barbarians is one of rugby's great traditions and our players are really looking forward to this match. It gives them one more chance on this tour to show their skills and push for All Blacks selection in the future."
The All Blacks have played the UK-based Barbarians on nine occasions since 1954, winning seven games, losing one in 1973 and with one draw. The 1973 match featured what many fans consider to be one of the greatest tries ever, when Gareth Edwards opened the scoring with a length-of-the-field team try. The All Blacks last played the Barbarians in 2004 at Twickenham, winning the match 47 - 19.
Popular competitions and giveaways from Gimme.co.nz: NZ's People Powered Guide to Free Stuff. Links will open on Gimme.
Health Tips, Recommended Movies, Recommended Books, Recommended Places.
Links will open on recommended.co.nz.
All articles and comments on Voxy.co.nz have been submitted by our community of users. Please notify us through our contact form if you believe an item on this site breaches our community guidelines.
Voxy: Your Voice - Uncensored
Got Something to Say But No One’s Listening?
Message to Spread? – Distribute News
Product to Promote? – Run a Promotion
We Can Help You Spread The Word.