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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
British and Irish Lions vs Barbarians Preview 8 views
30 May 2013 by The Swede Eaters
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The British and Irish Lions tour starts this weekend when they play the Barbarians in Hong Kong. There are plenty of interesting selections in both teams. Don't worry, this isn't a match in the www.testrugby.com game, but will provide insight for managers.
Irish lock Paul O'Connell will captain the British and Irish Lions against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.
It will be interesting to see how this game goes with both teams featuring players from different countries who will probably be lacking combinations given that they haven't played much together.
The British and Irish Lions squad for this match includes 11 Wales, 3 Scotland, 4 England and 5 Ireland players. There have been some combinations kept for example with all Wales midfield and loose forward combinations.
There are six players from the previous British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2009, while there won't be many players from the Aviva Premiership and PRO12 finals.
As a kiwi, I am interested to see how Scotland kiwi Sean Maitland goes.
The Barbarians team will hopefully throw the ball around and plenty of former and current international test players. From a New Zealand perspective it will be interesting to see Jared Payne and former All Blacks, Casey Laulala, Nick Evans and Joe Rokocoko go and see how they handle the pace of the game after being out of the international test arena for a while. It is funny seeing the combination of all the different nationalities go given that many of these players have actually played against each other in test match rugby.
Sergio Parisse captains the side and these players are all based in the Northern Hemisphere. Some other players I am interested in seeing are New Zealand Samoan Kahn Fotuali'i and French based American Takudzwa Ngwenya who once stitched up Springboks winger Brian Habana to score a try. It is also funny seeing people who have played for one of the British and Irish Lions nations, but obviously missed the squad. There will even be club team-mates opposing each other.
Who are you picking to win this match? I would love to see the Barbarians win this match, but I think the lack of unity will cost them and they will lose narrowly.
My pick - British and Irish Lions by 6 points.
British and Irish Lions vs Barbarians 2013 starting teams.
Barbarians
Jared Payne (Ulster/NZL); Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne/NZL), Elliot Daly (London Wasps/ENG), Casey Laulala (Munster/NZL), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympique/USA); Nick Evans (Harlequins/NZL), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz Olympique/FRA); Sergio Parisse (capt, Stade Francais/ITA), Sam Jones (London Wasps/ENG), Samu Manoa (Northampton/USA); Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs/AUS), Marco Wentzel (London Wasps/RSA); Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester/ITA), Schalk Brits (Saracens/RSA), Paul James (Bath/WAL)
Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso/ITA), Duncan Jones (Ospreys/WAL), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro 92/ITA), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester/SCO), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz Olympique/FRA), Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys/SAM), James Hook (Perpignan/WAL), Mike Tindall (Gloucester/ENG)
British and Irish Lions: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Richie Gray, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Matt Stevens, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Jamie Heaslip, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Johnny Sexton, 23 George North.
Who are you picking to win the match between the British and Irish Lions vs Barbarians?
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2013/05/british-and-irish-lions-vs-barbarians.html
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