2016 End-of-year internationals

[Stargazer]

The Barbarians keep on naming new players for the following matches:

v Czech Rep (Prague) and Fiji (Belfast)
Ben Franks (New Zealand)
http://www.london-irish.com/news/interview-franks-to-join-up-with-barbarians-squad/bp1091/

v Fiji (Belfast)
Tommy Bowe (Ireland, B&I Lions)
http://ulsterrugby.com/news/15410.php#.WBoNrS196Uk

[Stargazer]

@Stargazer said in 2016 End-of-year internationals:

The Barbarians squad for their game v South Africa has been named:

Andy Ellis will captain the team.

FYI: I keep on updating the first post of this thread with kick-off and broadcasting times etc.

Springboks: 1. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks) 84 caps, 2. Malcolm Marx (Lions) 1 caps, 3. Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks) 4 caps, 4. RG Snyman (Bulls) 0 caps, 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Western Province) 17 caps, 6. Roelof Smit (Bulls) 0 caps, 7. Teboho Mohojé (Cheetahs) 14 caps, 8. Nizaam Carr (Western Province) 2 caps, 9. Rudy Paige (Bulls) 5 caps, 10. Pat Lambie (captain, Sharks) 53 caps, 11. Jamba Ulengo (Bulls) 0 caps, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Lions) 0 caps, 13. Francois Venter (Cheetahs) 0 caps, 14. Sergeal Petersen (Cheetahs) 0 caps, 15. Jesse Kriel (Bulls) 17 caps.

Reserves: 16. Bongi Mbonambi (Western Province) 3 caps, 17. Lizo Gqoboko (Bulls) 0 caps, 18. Trevor Nyakane (Bulls) 26 caps, 19. Eben Etzebeth (Western Province) 53 caps, 20. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks) 0 caps, 21. Piet van Zyl (Bulls) 2 caps, 22. Tian Schoeman (Bulls) 0 caps, 23. Ruan Combrinck (Lions) 4 caps, 13 points

http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=3770864

Comparing those 2 sides suggests the Springboks could get smashed this weekend! Only advantage they have is that they have been training together for longer and that the Baabaas only assembled this week.

[Stargazer]

This Barbarians game has started well! 5-0 for the Baabaas after a try by Nanai.

[Sapetyvi]

The barbarians hoisted a penalty kick from the attacking 22 and would have scored if not for a slight knock on. Damn marvelous

[Billy Tell]

SA losing to what is effectively a super XV international rejects XV: boks, ABs, wallabies, maori ABs.

[Wurzel]

Wasn't flash for the Boks. That really was a Dregs XV running out for the Baabaas. The fanbois will be pleased to know that the Barracuda looked dangerous throughout the match.

[ACT Crusader]

Just watched that Baabaas game and it was pretty entertaining.

Stirzaker is one of the more frustrating players to watch.

Naiyaravoro had a huge game in attack.

[Stargazer]

Barbarians squad for the game v Czech Republic:

[Crucial]

van der Merwe the lone non-NZr on the bench.

[Dice]

Who are half those players? It looks like an unlicensed team on Rugby Challenge.

[Stargazer]

@Dice That picture was from the Barbarians' twitter feed. This is from their website and includes their teams:

15 Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs)
14 Luke Morahan (Force & Australia)
13 Matt Faddes (Highlanders)
12 Robert du Preez (Stormers)
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs/Panasonic & Australia)
10 Richard Mo’unga (Crusaders)
9 Nic Stirzaker (Rebels)
1 Schalk van der Merwe (Montpellier)
2 Andrew Ready (Reds)
3 Toby Smith (Rebels & Australia)
4 Dan Tuohy (Ulster & Ireland, captain)
5 Martin Muller (Lions)
6 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia)
7 Kwagga Smith (Lions)
8 Ruan Ackermann (Lions)

Replacements:
16 Akker van der Merwe (Lions)
17 Reggie Goodes (Hurricanes)
18 Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand)
19 Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes)
20 Brad Shields (Hurricanes)
21 Andy Ellis (Crusaders/Kobelco & New Zealand)
22 Jordan Taufua (Crusaders)
23 Melani Nanai (Blues)

http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/tuohy-and-franks-join-barbarians-to-face-czech-republic/

Awesome. Can't wait to see Taufua play first five when he comes off the bench!

[Stargazer]

Just in case not everyone (who would like to watch this game) had noticed, I have added links to the schedule in the first post of this thread, at least one of which - hopefully - will go to a livestream of the Barbarians match tomorrow morning. Kick-off 7.00am (the livestream begins approx 6.10am). I can't exclude the possibility that there is a geo-block on the livestream but that won't have to stop you from watching ...

I've read a few articles from Czech online newspapers (with the help of Google translate) and it seems everyone there is very excited about this game. The game is played in a speedway stadium and it's a sell-out (I don't now the capacity of the stadium). If I understand it correctly, the game is played against the Czech Republic, and in Prague, to celebrate the 90 year anniversary of the Czech Rugby Union. There's a lot of emphasis on the New Zealanders in the squad, particularly Ben Franks because he's a double World Cup winner.

The Barbarians have held rugby clinics for a great number of children the past few days, and media - and Czech players interviewed by those media - see their presence and the game as great boost for Czech rugby. There have also been tours around the city for the players, to show them Prague, which is - from what I've heard - a beautiful city with a lot of impressive, old buildings.

[Stargazer]

This link to the Baabaas game works http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ivysilani/10208257024-ragby/216471291302001-cesko-barbarian-fc/

[Stargazer]

There has been a late change to the Barbarians line-up - Nanai replaces Naiyaravaro at 11. Buckman onto bench.

[Crucial]

The Czechs have a pretty solid scrum.

12-0 to the Baabaas so far

thanks for the link

[Crucial]

Under the posts for Faddes, make that 19-0

[Stargazer]

I read on the Barbarians twitter feed that it's 0 degrees in Prague. Yikes.

[Crucial]

@Stargazer it looks fucken cold that's for sure.

It must be close to that in London tonight as well.

[Stargazer]

Sam Carter with the try. The stream is delayed, because apparently there has already been another try to the Baabaas.

[Stargazer]

Yep, scored by Nanai. It looks like Mo'unga and Du Preez are sharing the kicking duties: it's 31-0 to the Baabaas. It's going to be a monster score.