All Blacks name team for match against Barbarians
Photo: www.allblacks.com
All Blacks Coach Graham Henry and his Assistant Coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have today named the team to play the Barbarians at Twickenham, London, on Saturday 5 December, in the final match of the All Blacks Telecom Northern Tour.
Starting XV
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Corey Flynn
3. John Afoa
4. Jason Eaton
5. Anthony Boric
6. Liam Messam
7. Richie McCaw
8. Rodney So’oialo
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Stephen Donald
11. Zac Guildford
12. Luke McAlister
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Ben Smith
15. Cory Jane
Reserves:
16. Andrew Hore
17. Neemia Tialata
18. Adam Thomson
19. Tanerau Latimer
20. Jimmy Cowan
21. Mike Delany
22. Sitiveni Sivivatu
In the starting XV, the front row sees Wyatt Crockett come in at loosehead prop for his third start of the Telecom Northern Tour, with Corey Flynn at hooker and John Afoa at tighthead prop. Jason Eaton and Anthony Boric make up the second row, while Liam Messam is at blindside flanker, Richie McCaw, who played for the Barbarians last year, will again captain the side from openside flanker and Rodney So’oialo is at number eight.
In the backs, Brendon Leonard starts at halfback, Stephen Donald, who has been in every playing 22 on tour, starts at first five-eighth, with Luke McAlister, who is well known to English rugby fans from his time at Sale, making his second start of the tour at second five-eighth. McAlister is paired with Tamati Ellison at centre, with Ben Smith getting his second start on the right wing, Zac Guildford is on the left wing, and Cory Jane, starting in his fifth tour match, is at fullback.
On the reserves bench, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Adam Thomson and Tanerau Latimer will cover the forwards, with Jimmy Cowan, Mike Delany and Sitiveni Sivivatu the back reserves.
All Blacks Coach Graham Henry said: “A match against the Barbarians is one of rugby’s great traditions and our players are really looking forward to this match. It gives them one more chance on this tour to show their skills and push for All Blacks selection in the future.”
The All Blacks have played the UK-based Barbarians on nine occasions since 1954, winning seven games, losing one in 1973 and with one draw. The 1973 match featured what many fans consider to be one of the greatest tries ever, when Gareth Edwards opened the scoring with a length-of-the-field team try. The All Blacks last played the Barbarians in 2004 at Twickenham, winning the match 47 – 19.
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For further information contact:
Joe Locke
All Blacks Media Manager
M: +44 (0) 7848 009 536
The All Blacks: With a history extending more than a century, New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks, is the most successful international rugby team of all time and one of the most successful teams in world sport, with a winning Test record of 74 percent. The All Blacks play Australia and South Africa annually in the Investec Tri Nations tournament, which New Zealand has won nine times in 13 years, including from 2005-2008. The All Blacks have also won three Grand Slams against the Home Nations, in 1978, 2005 and 2008. Coach Graham Henry and his assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have coached the All Blacks since 2004 and extended the team’s winning record in that time to 84 percent. The All Blacks were named IRB Team of the Year and Henry Coach of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2008.