BARBARIANS centre Stirling Mortlock has warned the new Wallabies midfield pair of Berrick Barnes and James O'Connor to expect plenty of traffic at Twickenham on Saturday week.

The star-studded Barbarians are expected to field a giant centre pairing of Sonny Bill Williams and Mortlock, who will be angling back into the smaller men to create havoc.

"Berrick is a very solid defender, and James plays above his weight," Mortlock said. "As individual defenders, there are no weaknesses. But it (midfield area) is a stock-standard launching platform, so there will be traffic going that way." Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said yesterday Barnes and O'Connor would fill the five-eighth and inside centre positions but would not reveal in which order.

Mortlock finds himself in the unusual position of playing against the nation he captained while still harbouring hope of regaining his international jersey.

He will also pick the expansive rugby brains of All Blacks coaches Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, who will guide the Barbarians and look to rub further salt into the wounds inflicted by their comprehensive World Cup semi-final defeat of Deans' team.

Australia are the only top-tier nation the Barbarians have not beaten and Mortlock, who is likely to partner O'Connor in the centres for Melbourne next season, said: "We're going to have a very strong team right across the paddock."

The fund-raising exercise of the Wallabies' Spring tour could backfire because Wales have yanked star centre Jamie Roberts from the Barbarians squad to preserve him for the showdown in Cardiff a week later.

The move signals how seriously Wales are taking the Test on December 3.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...-1226195997695

Barbarians squad: Sam Tomkins (England RL), Bryan Habana (South Africa), Isaia Toeava (New Zealand), Robbie Fruean (Crusaders), Stirling Mortlock (Australia), Richard Kahui (New Zealand), Seru Rabeni (Fiji), Danny Cipriani (England), Peter Stringer (Ireland), Nemia Kenatale (Fiji), Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), Adriaan Strauss (South Africa), Salvatore Perugini (Italy), Sylvain Marconnet (France), Eusebio Guinazu (Argentina), Victor Matfield (South Africa), Simon Shaw (England), Marco Bortolami (Italy), Jason White (Scotland), Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), Adam Thomson (New Zealand), Mauro Bergamasco (Italy).

The captain will be announced when the squad assembles in London on 22 November.