Wilson included in Barbarians' squad for Northampton tour opener

[The InnFORCEr]

Tue, Aug 29, 2023, 10:08 AM
Nathan Williamson


Queensland Reds backrower Harry Wilson will get his chance to impress Eddie Jones and Wallabies selectors as he links up with a plethora of Australians for the Barbarians.

Wilson is one of 17 inclusions for their opening match against English side Northampton on September 2 (local time).

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The backrower is in red-hot form, claiming the Tony Shaw Medallist as player of the final in Brothers' thrilling 26-24 Hospital Cup grand final win over Wests.

The squad is predominately made up of players from Australia A's win over Portugal, with coach Jason Gilmore taking charge of the Barbarians.

There are 11 players with Wallaby experience, headlined by James O'Connor, Tom Wright and Hunter Paisami.

Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will also make his return to the Saints, departing the club for the Rebels at the end of the year.

Waratahs trio Lachie Swinton, Harry Johnson-Holmes and Dylan Pietsch have been included, joined by the Lonergan brothers.

The squad is supplemented with players from Japan, with five capped players selected.

Ryohei Yamanaka and Kaito Shigeno headlines the list along with Japan U20 star Shunta Nakamura.

The Australian-dominate squad is a major competitive advantage for the Wallabies heading into the World Cup, set to play games across the group stages.

It ensures regular game-time for those on the cusp of a call-up in case of injury in the Australian squad.

The Barbarians are coming off a 28-14 defeat of Samoa, largely made up of players from South Africa and the Premiership.

Barbarian F.C. squad to face Northampton Saints

FORWARDS

Josh Canham (Melbourne Rebels, Australia A)

Harry Johnson-Holmes (NSW Waratahs, Australia )

Kenta Kobayashi (Tokyo Sungoliath)

Tom Lambert (NSW Waratahs, Australia A)

Lachlan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies, Australia)

Faulua Makisi (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay, Japan)

Shunta Nakamura (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan U20s)

Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies, Australia)

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (Melbourne Rebels, Australia)

Kanji Shimokawa (Suntory Sungoliath, Japan)

Lachlan Swinton (NSW Waratahs, Australia)

Sam Talakai (Melbourne Rebels, Australia)

Seru Uru (Queensland Reds, Australia A)

Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds, Australia)

BACKS

Lachie Anderson (Melbourne Rebels, Australia A)

Filipo Daugunu (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Ryan Lonergan (ACT Brumbies, Australia A)

Nicholas McCurran (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo)

James O’Connor (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Hunter Paisami (Queensland Reds, Australia)

Dylan Pietsch (NSW Waratahs, Australia A)

Kaito Shigeno (Toyota Verblitz, Japan)

Taichi Takahashi (Toyota Verblitz, Japan)

Tom Wright (ACT Brumbies, Australia)

Ryohei Yamanaka (Kobelco Kobe Steelers, Japan)

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/wilson...opener-2023829

[shasta]

Expect another Swinton puff piece form Doran if he manages to stay on the pitch in that one.

[Burgs]

I don't really understand the premise of this Squad, why it's not an entirely Australia eligible selection (Australia A)?
Is it a funding issue that they have managed to convince "Barbarians Rugby" to fund our own Squad development?

[GIGS20]

Expect another Swinton puff piece form Doran if he manages to stay on the pitch in that one.

Even if he doesn't Doran will make the most of anything he did well by downplaying his brain snap as ref prejudice or a complete accident.