Bok look for Baa-baas
Tue, 27 May 2008 11:11
Springbok Ollie Le Roux, who played his part in Leinster's Magners League-winning season, has been included in the Barbarians team for Tuesday friendly match against Ireland at Gloucester's Kingsholm ground.
Le Roux is part of a Southern Hemisphere-dominated Barbarians team, which will be captained by Australian centre Morgan Turinui.
The prop is joined by fellow countrymen Jaco Pretorius, Michael Claassens, Pedrie Wannenburg, Ross Skeate and Cobus Visagie in the Baa-baas line-up.
Wallaby legend Stephen Larkham will don the No.10 jersey for the invitational side, while there are six English-based players in the line-up including Gloucester and England wing Lesley Vainikolo.
The Baa-baas are being coached by Cardiff Blues director of rugby David Young. They beat Belgium in their tour opener on Saturday, winning 84-10, with former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas scoring four tries.
For Tuesday's encounter with Ireland there could be the surprise inclusion of New Zealand flank Jerry Collins on the Baa-baas' replacements bench.
It has just been announced that the 27-year-old has been given an early release from his New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) contract so a move to Europe could possibly be on the cards for him.
The Barbarians have played Ireland on two previous occasions, winning the Peace International 70-38 in Dublin in 1996 and, four years later, winning 31-30.
Teams:
Babarians: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Morgan Turinui (captain), 12 Jaco Pretorius, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 David Croft, 6 Craig Newby, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Kris Chesney, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Ollie Le Roux .
Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, 17 Patrice Collazo, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Mitchell Chapman/Jerry Collins, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 Glen Jackson, 22 Tyrone
Smith/Seilala Mapusua.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Bob Casey, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Tom Court, 18 Ryan Caldwell, 19 Neil Best, 20 Frank Murphy, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Girvan Dempsey.
Date: Tuesday, May 27
Venue: Kingsholm, Gloucester
Kick-off: 19.45 (18.45 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges: Chris White (England), Tony Spreadbury (England)
Television match official: Matt Peters (England), Geoff Warren (England)
