Richie McCaw will lead the All Blacks for their last match of 2009 and will not get the break he so desires, when they face the Barbarians XV at Twickenham on Saturday.
McCaw and Cory Jane (moving to fullback) are the only survivors from the lineup which demolished France by 39 / 12 last Saturday.
It appears that the All Blacks are determined to complete an unbeaten END of Year Tour against the BaaBaas. The match against the BaaBaas is a festive match and does not qualify as a Test match.
Flyhalf Stephen Donald and prop John Afoa are the only players yet to start on this tour and will get their opportunity this weekend. Other newbies in the mix are wings Zac Guildford and Ben Smith, along with centre Tamati Ellison. Mike Delany, will probably get time on the park from the bench.
New Zealand: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Jason Eaton, 3 John Afoa, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Adam Thomson, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Sitiveni Sivivatu.
Date: Saturday, December 5
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 16.30 SA Time (14.30 GMT; 03.30 NZ time, December 6)
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France, David Changleng (Scotland)
TMO: Andrew Turner (England), Graham Hughes (England)
Go baabaas!
Ja jong, please let the Baabaas win this one….
GO Barbarians, GO!!!
The SA Barbarians selected for the BOK mid week games let me down, so pull finger boys hehehehe
3
Rephrase
They didn’t let me down, as I wouldn’t have selected some of them in the first place
When will the BaaBaas team be announced?
Lots of saffas in that team. Wonder if they will be tired for that game 😉 Nah, When facing the ABs they will get the energy back.
Polla if you read this. I finally got your pic of your HUGE cat. He is massive. Similar to the size of the cat that I saw on my desk last week. Only that one was almost as wide…….hehehe. Fat bugger he was.
6@ Puma – You have “Snail Mail”, it seems… Snail-Sharkie!
Hehehe
PR still not happy with RM player of the year award, read on,
We feared this would happen. Just like clockwork, the International Rugby Board pulls a rabbit from the hat by announcing Richie McCaw as 2009’s Player of the Year. Say what?
Well, you have to hand it to the IRB Awards independent panel of judges: at least they consistent by pulling the wool (no pun intended Richie) over our eyes.
But while McCaw was bleating on about “how proud” and what a “huge honour” it was to win, even he must have been wondering at the back of his mind how rugby’s much sought-after individual prize ended up with his name engraved on it again.
We all know how good a player he is. But with the likes of Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll and South Africa scrum-half Fourie du Preez having a far better stellar season than the New Zealand flanker, the IRB should – but won’t – feel very sheepish indeed for making yet another blunder.
Personally, I would have been happy if either one of BOD or Du Preez had won it. But instead the decision, perhaps influenced over a juicy lamb chop dinner on the IRB’s expense, will now go down as an historic achievement for McCaw, who really should have been awarded this gong last year. Heaven knows he deserved it more then than he does now!
Perhaps that was the bone that the IRB were left fighting over by making the wrongs of last year right. No offence Shane Williams, but even a Welsh Wizard of your class couldn’t conjure up a spell on how to make the two favourites for rugby’s top award disappear. It really was some piece of magic that has left plenty of supporters gobsmacked.
And sadly for us, a magician never reveals his tricks. But luckily we have IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset heading the Harry Potter panel of experts and he had this to say: “There is no doubt that this was a particularly closely-fought year with each of the shortlisted players producing outstanding performances. Richie is an inspirational figure, a fine leader and one of the greats of the game in recent years, and a deserving recipient of the IRB Player of the Year Award for the second time.”
Ok, lets try and carve this down and shed a wee bit of light on what went on at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…er, I mean the IRB offices!
Besides BOD and Du Preez – the rest of the nominees were like lambs to the slaughter compared to the duo’s feats in 2009. O’Driscoll was responsible for leading his team to their first Six Nations Grand Slam since 1948, helping Leinster to their first ever Heineken Cup title, featured prominently in the British & Irish Lions back-line and captained Ireland to a draw and a win over southern hemisphere heavyweights (leaving them unbeaten in eleven outings). He was also voted as Ireland’s best player this year.
Du Preez played a big part in guiding the Bulls to their second Super 14 title, played a key role beating the Lions, was a standout in South Africa’s third Tri-Nations title, lifted the Currie Cup trophy and shone for all the right reasons in South Africa’s disastrous end-of-year tour. He was also voted as South Africa’s best player this year.
McCaw missed half of the Super 14, but upon his return he captained the Crusaders to a semi-final defeat. During that match, he got injured again and missed New Zealand’s June internationals against France and Italy but made a return to the Tri-Nations where he led his troops towards three defeats to South Africa and a Bledisloe Cup whitewash over Australia.
Granted, McCaw played well but he never got the better of someone like Heinrich Brussow in the side’s three meetings. And John Smit was by far the better leader between the two.
The grass was perhaps a bit greener on the Northern Hemisphere side and it’s fair to say he saved his best for last on the All Blacks’ successful European trip. Sadly it seems that is what stuck the most in Tana Umaga’s head, I mean the IRB panel of judges’ heads casting their ridiculous vote.
Inspirational figure, fine leader and one of the greats of the game McCaw may be, but best player of the year 2009 he is not.
By Dave Morris
I see it differently, that RM had such an effect on the out come of S14 & 3N despite not playing for part of either comp speaks volumes to his influence.
Tell me … all these Boks rocking up for the cashed up Baabaas game – are they the ones who, to quote the coach, were too “mentally & physically fatigued” to beat Ireland ?
Princess, money talks – not all these guys will make it in the media or on TV when their working rugby lives are over.
They have to take the money and run (tackle, scrum and kick)!! 🙂
They are a long time retired!!
Carol
Cannot have you cake & eat it too though … One cannot roll out long season / tiredness as a reason for under performing then perk up a week later 😉
Rugby players & Firemen don’t get paid anywhere enough if you ask me.
Princess – It’s OK Barbarians play ‘champagne’ rugby!! They just have to fizz a bit!!
I think having your cake AND eating it is what we all strive for!! 🙂
Impressive AB 2nd 15! Still think the Blacks will take this one. Seldom does a patch team take the spoils.
Oh good morning all.
Morning Irish, I assume the victory hangover is just a memory!!
What is GBS playing at today, pictures flashing up, stuff at the bottome of the page!!
What is going on?? What is a ‘Text Flash Ad’ anyway?
Now it has gone!!
To be sure Carol! How are you?
Carol – what is the topic of discussion today?
@16 Carol – is flashing legal?
Irish, great thanks….day off!!
You having a quick blog at work? 😉
No I’m working – why 😉 I can multi-task
Hi TripE
You looking forward to the game?
19 – Topic of discussion – OK what is Rugby Talks ‘theme tune’…..
If it had a trailer on TV what music would go with it?
I do not want to discuss should John Smit retire only play hooker, what is wrong with the Boks scrums or is Morne only fit to kick in the dry today!! 😆
Does anyone think the Barbarians have a hope of winning? Thats OK!!
Hi there
hows life treating you two Norhtenr Hemisphere Types?
Oh it is one of those days where I chat to myself again!
Norhtenr – Northern Hehehehehe
@25 – Carol – music will give it some thought.
Nope I think the Blacks will run away with it.
Dammit jsut received a huge job to do, will have to say g’bye !!!!!!
Have a wonderful afternoon guys
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