Baa-Baas name Gollings as captain
Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:37
England Sevens star Ben Gollings will captain the Australian Barbarians against David Croft's Queensland XV in Sunday's 'back to Ballymore' match in Brisbane.
The goal-kicking flyhalf, who plays for Sunnybank in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition, was chosen by coach Alan Jones for his communications skills in one of the key positions on the field.
Jones and co-coach Alec Evans settled on their starting side on Friday, with all international players bar No.8 Toutai Kefu now in Brisbane. Kefu will fly in from Japan on Saturday.
A reshuffle on the bench meant a callup for young Brothers back row forward Andrew Shaw, son of former Wallaby Tony Shaw, who could well come up against his brother Liam, who is on the bench for the Queensland side.
As expected, Jones named robust Tongan Epi Taione at inside centre, where he expects him to take on the defence and stand strong in the maul.
"I hope the other side know how to tackle," Jones said.
Australian Services Rugby Union back Zane Mitchell, brother of Wallaby wing Drew, is at outside centre with England World Cup wing Dan Luger on one flank and giant Australian Under-20 and Waratahs wing Ratu Nasiganiyavi on the other.
Queensland captain David Croft will face the aggressive Waratahs flank Beau Robinson, with former All Black Scott Robertson at blindside flank.
On the bench former Wallaby Andrew Walker has been bracketed with Stingrays outside back Nathan Williams, who is in doubt.
Barbarians: 15 Mark Gerrard (Brumbies), 14 Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs), 13 Zane Mitchell (Aust Services), 12 Epi Taione (Tonga), 11 Dan Luger (England), 10 Ben Gollings (England Sevens) (captain), 9 Sam Cordingley (Reds), 8 Toutai Kefu (Kubota, Japan), 7 Beau Robinson (Waratahs), 6 Scott Robertson (NZ), 5 Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies), 4 Sitaleki Timani (Brumbies), 3 Salesi Maafu (Brumbies), 2 Jeremy Paul (Gloucester), 1 Pek
Cowan (Force).
Replacements: 16 Dan Palmer (Waratahs), 17 John Ulugia (Brumbies), 18 Jason Harrington (Aust Services), 19 Andrew Shaw (Brothers), 20 Moses Rauluni (Fiji), 21 Gonzalo Quesada (Argentina), 22 Nathan Williams (Stingrays)/Andrew Walker (Reds).
Date: Sunday, July 13
Venue: Ballymore, Brisbane
Kick-off: 15.30 (07.30 GMT)
Referee: Ian Smith (NSW)
