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Today at 10:39 AM International
by Beth Newman
Six Aussies have been included in Eddie Jones' Barbarians squad for their Autumn tour.
Test players Joe Powell, Pete Samu, Luke Jones and Matt Philip have been picked in the initial squad, along with uncapped Rebels duo Billy Meakes and Angus Cottrell.
The Baabaas will take on a Fiji XV at Twickenham this weekend before travelling to Brazil to take on the South Americans on their home soil in a week's time.
Their final match of 2019 will be back in the UK, against a Wales XV at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Jones has become a regular in Barbarians teams of recent times, having played in 2017 against the Wallabies in Sydney and in last year's end of year clash against Argentina.
The Aussies will be among a star-studded lineup that includes World Cup winners Tendai Mtawarira and Makazole Mapimpi and Ireland captain Rory Best.
It's fair to say this group's coach brings some star power as well with Eddie Jones taking the reins of the Barbarians for the first time.
Jones said earlier this year that he was looking forward to steering the team.
“It’s a huge honour to be invited to coach the Barbarians," he said.
"The club perfectly embodies the values and traditions of the sport and fans can expect to see an exciting match between two sides who like to play end-to-end running rugby.
Saturday's match will be the first international at Twickenham since England lost to South Africa in this month's Rugby World Cup final.
Jones will be joined by John Mitchell in the coaching team.
SQUAD
Barbarians squad for 2019 Tests
Forwards
Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)
Rory Best (Ireland)
Enrique Pieretto (Argentina)
Luke Jones (Australia)
Matt Philip (Australia)
Pete Samu (Australia)
Marco van Staden (South Africa)
Josh Strauss (Scotland)
Andrew Makalio (uncapped/Crusaders)
Campese Ma’afu (Fiji)
Hencus van Wyk (Uncapped/Sunwolves)
Tyler Ardron (Canada)
Angus Cottrell (uncapped/Rebels)
Backs
Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa)
Mathieu Bastareaud (France)
Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)
Jano Vermaak (uncapped/Stormers)
David Havili (uncapped/Crusaders)
Morne Steyn (South Africa)
Santiago Iglesias (Argentina)
Curwin Bosch (South Africa)
Billy Meakes (uncapped/Rebels)
Bautisa Ezcurra (Argentina)
Andre Esterhuizen (South Africa)
Joe Powell (Australia)
Dillyn Leyds (South Africa)
SCHEDULE
Saturday November 16 - Barbarians vs Fiji XV, Twickenham
Tuesday November 20 - Brazil vs Barbarians, Sao Paulo
Saturday November 30 - Wales vs Barbarians, Cardiff
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/1...ans-fiji-squad
Five ex Force players in that squad![]()
Last edited by The InnFORCEr; 13-11-19 at 12:00.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Notable that 4 of the 6 are ex-Western Force players.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
I don't think Luke Jones ever played with WF.....
there were a spate of guys tried out when Braindead Dick took over from Mitchell
Ahhhh the good old days of Braindead Dick, I just lurvvved them days
The long sobs of autumn's violins wound my heart with a monotonous languor
Oh, yeah, those days when shuffling players around was the way to cover up the fact that the coach had no analysis skills, no strategic plan and no man management capabilities.
Better or worse than Cheika? answer in less than 25 words to win the grand prize of GIGS saying you won.
Judges decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into, the prize cannot be substituted for cash, since it's value is such that if you chose that option, you would owe me money.
C'mon the![]()
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Not sure Wessels is all he is cracked up to be either. What has he achieved since becoming a head coach?
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Well, he took a chronically under-funded Force from cellar-dwellers to 2nd in the Australian conference, and then turned the chronically under-performing Rebels into play-off contenders (OK, before they slipped out of contention two seasons running!)
He seems to be able to take poor sides and make them into a good side, but whether he's the coach to take a good team and make them great is an unanswered question. Different coaches and coaching styles suit different occasions. After all, Cheika was actually the ideal coach for the Wallabies for the 2015 World Cup - take a side moulded by McKenzie but battered by the events around his departure, and build the team spirit and confidence back to a point where they reached the final. However, he was then the wrong person to steer the team for the next 4 years.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon