Barbarians: November 2019 Tour

[Stargazer]

And ...... just as I finish editing my previous post, the Barbarians post the squad for their Autumn Tour (the emojis are theirs, not mine):

FORWARDS
Tendai MTAWARIRA
Rory BEST️
Enrique PIERETTO
Luke JONES
Matt PHILIP
Pete SAMU
Marco van STADEN
Josh STRAUSS 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Andrew MAKALIO (Uncapped)
Campese MAAFU
Hencus van WYK (Uncapped)
Tyler ARDRON
Angus COTTREL (Uncapped)

BACKS
Makazole MAPIMPI
Mathieu BASTAREAUD
Lukhanyo AM
Jano VERMAAK
David HAVILI
Morne STEYN
Santiago IGLESIAS
Curwin BOSCH
Billy MEAKES (Uncapped)
Bautista EZCURRA
Andre ESTERHUIZEN
Joe POWELL
Dylan LEYDS

[Bones]

Pretty hard to get too excited about that side - I guess WC year has struck, not exactly the Baabaa teams of yesteryear full of stars and typically just one uncapped player!

[scribe]

@Bones indeed. Lots of tickets still available and I go most years. Pretty sure I won’t go this year with that squad.

[Chris B.]

Am, Mapimpi and Mtawarira from the SA RWC squad and Havili, Makalio and Samu from The Nation of Ta$man.

Clearly Eddie and Mitch are picking winners!

[Snowy]

@chimoaus said in Barbarians: November 2019 Tour:

@Bones said in Barbarians: November 2019 Tour:

@chimoaus said in Barbarians: November 2019 Tour:

I thought Gatland would be on the first plane back to Chiefs land, obviously has a few loose ends to sort out first. Wouldn’t be surprised if Gatland Jnr gets a run.

I imagine coaching the Baabaa's - as well as being a bloody fun time - would be a very nice little xmas bonus.

Yeah I think they get a very nice bonus, didn’t an Aussie player get pulled up at the airport with their BaaBaas cash?

Yep.

**Wallabies trio escape ARU censure over cash stash

Greg Growden
March 28, 2011

The Australian Rugby Union will take no action after three Wallabies were issued with infringement notices by the Australian Federal Police after failing to declare money to Customs officers. Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Drew Mitchell were investigated by the AFP after not declaring more than $60,000 in cash to Customs when they returned to Sydney following the Wallabies' end-of-season tour last December. The money was earned when the trio played for the Barbarians at the end of the northern hemisphere tour. The players said they had forgotten to declare the money, and were fined $220 each by the AFP. An ARU spokesman yesterday said the union had made inquires on the matter. ''It is important to note it is not an offence to bring in to the country more than $10,000 in foreign currency,'' the spokesman said. ''The issue has been dealt with, and we consider the matter closed.''*
*

It is an offence not to declare over $10,000 hence the fine. I do wonder why they were paid in cash though? Avoiding the ATO with overseas earnings?

[antipodean]

@Snowy I doubt anyone forgets they're carrying $20k

[Snowy]

@antipodean Exactly.

[OomPB]

@Stargazer No Herschel Jantjies and Schalk Brits?

[Stargazer]

@OomPB Schalk Brits was never mentioned in the Barbarians' media releases, but the absence of Hershell Jantjies surprises me. Haven't been able to find out why he isn't in the squad.

[OomPB]

@Stargazer http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/barbarians-welcome-two-more-legends-as-mitchell-joins-jones-and-brits-signs-up/

http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/south-african-world-cup-champions-to-light-up-barbarians-november-tour/

[Stargazer]

@OomPB Thanks, I must be getting blind!

[Stargazer]

[Machpants]

@Stargazer Why the fook are they playing a loose forward in the centres?

[Stargazer]

@Machpants Don't you mean prop? :face_with_tears_of_joy:

[Stargazer]

Fiji

1 Samuela Tawake (Manuwatu – Debut)
2 Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto (Fijian Drua – 9 caps)
3 Eroni Mawi (Fijian Drua – 12 caps)
4 Temo Mayanavanua (Northland – debut)
5 Sikeli Nabou (Counties Manukau – 6 caps)
6 Mosese Voka (Fijian Drua – 9 caps)
7 John Dyer (Fijian Drua – 1 cap)
8 Eremasi Radrodro (Fijian Drua – 4 caps)
9 Frank Lomani (Melbourne Rebels – 14 caps)
10 Teti Tela (Queensland Reds – debut)
11 Patrick Osborne (Canterbury – 9 caps)
12 Serupepeli Vularika (Fijian Drua – 10 caps)
13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma (North Harbour – 23 caps)
14 Jiuta Wainiqolo (Fijian Drua – debut)
15 Enele Malele (Fijian Drua – debut)

Reserves
16 Tevita Ikanivere (Fijian Drua – debut)
17 Joeli Veitayaki (Fijian Drua – 6 caps)
18 Mosese Ducivaki (Fijian Drua – 3 caps)
19 Tevita Naqali (Fijian Drua – debut)
20 Mesulame Kunavula (Edinburgh – debut)
21 Peni Matawalu (Fijian Drua – debut)
22 Caleb Muntz (Fijian Drua – debut)
23 Cyril Reece (Fijian Drua – debut)

.
I was wondering what team Fiji could field, with all their regular test players back with their European clubs and unlikely to be released. So it's mostly Fijian Drua players from the NRC and some Mitre 10 Cup and SR players. Only one player from Europe.

[Bones]

@Stargazer reckon they could have got in touch with Nakarawa...

[Machpants]

@Bones said in Barbarians: November 2019 Tour:

@Stargazer reckon they could have got in touch with Nakarawa...

Beat me too it!

It's live on Sky Sport 1, which is good (recording it, obvs!)

[Stargazer]

For anyone who can't watch the game.

It's 14 - 12 to Fiji after 34 minutes. Two tries each, with one early Fijian "try" disallowed.

[Stargazer]

That's the half time score. As expected, not the best of games. Fiji looks the slightly better side; Baabaas look like a team who've only been together for less than a week (as they are).

[Stargazer]

Powell is such a bad halfback. Terrible kick, beautifully caught by Lomani, leads directly to a Fijian try. Why is Powell even there? There are way better halfbacks they could have picked.