Barbarians Squad Announcements v England & Lions

athtrasna

Some announcements already today, the Baabaas have confirmed that the Irish players will be named tomorrow.

Those named tonight: J Hook, P James, A Zanni, D Peel, S Manoa, J Hamilton & J Rokocko

Those previously named: Castro, Ghiraldini, Parisse, Fotuali'i, N Evans, Fourie, Harinordoquy, Tindall & R Varty

All via Twitter @Barbarian_FC

Pudsy33

Hopefully Madigan gets a crack at them!

Glass Prison 1214

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Hopefully Madigan gets a crack at them!

With James Hook and Nick Evans in the squad I'd say its unlikely.

durkadurka

That's some lineup so far...

P_1

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Hopefully Madigan gets a crack at them!

Isn't the pro12 final on the same day as this?

I'd imagine we'll see a low representation from Leinster and Ulster in that case

athtrasna

They said tomorrow's announcement is pending release agreements with the Provinces. Should be interesting...Zebo time?

trouttrout

athtrasna wrote: »

They said tomorrow's announcement is pending release agreements with the Provinces. Should be interesting...Zebo time?

Please god, the quintessential Babaa's player

durkadurka

The first game vs England clashes, the second game is a week later. They are only taking 23 players so its likely there won't be many Lulsters.

Lelantos

Will be a large Munster contingent I think. Zebo, Ryan, Laulala, & Rog hopefully have all got to be in with a shot.

Pudsy33

Glass Prison 1214 wrote: »

With James Hook and Nick Evans in the squad I'd say its unlikely.

True Nick Evans isn't particularly exciting tbh.

thomond2006

trouttrout wrote: »

Please god, the quintessential Babaa's player

He's already in the squad: Mike Tindall! :P

durkadurka

Are all these guys capped so far?

irishbucsfan

durkadurka wrote: »

Are all these guys capped so far?

Rowan Varty is the captain of the Hong Kong 7s team. So I suppose he is the novelty uncapped player this time out. I guess they'll put him on the bench and bring him out to the delight of the home crowd.

CIARAN_BOYLE

athtrasna wrote: »

They said tomorrow's announcement is pending release agreements with the Provinces. Should be interesting...Zebo time?

I doubt we will see anyone who is travelling internationally involved with the barbarians

athtrasna

durkadurka wrote: »

Are all these guys capped so far?

Varty is Captain of the England HK 7s team (and counted as a capped player according to their twitter account). Two uncapped players to be named tomorrow, one English...and Tommy O'Donnell. Okay...I may have made the last bit up

thomond2006

Marcus Horan potentially? Normally the Barbarians will have one or two retiring players involved in their summer fixtures.

Almaviva

athtrasna wrote: »

Should be interesting...Zebo time?

I used to think that ubiquitous Zebo was getting just a little too much love around here.

But now I'm starting to realise that I just must have missed the genesis of a boards.ie meme or troll pandemic. Makes sense now. For a while there I was thinking people did really think he was the greatest wing since sliced bread. Where can I get a 'Zebo Time?" teeshirt ?

athtrasna

Almaviva wrote: »

I used to think that ubiquitous Zebo was getting just a little too much love around here.

But now I'm starting to realise that I just must have missed the genesis of a boards.ie meme or troll pandemic. Makes sense now. For a while there I was thinking people did really think he was the greatest wing since sliced bread. Where can I get a 'Zebo Time?" teeshirt ?

His try count speaks for itself...the man is a legend. From the province that brought you Legends John Hayes, Paul O'Connell & Ronan O'Gara...we bring you Zebo! Definitely expect to see him and Ryan named tomorrow (convenient backup for Gatty)

Almaviva

athtrasna wrote: »

His try count speaks for itself...the man is a legend. From the province that brought you Legends John Hayes, Paul O'Connell & Ronan O'Gara...we bring you Zebo! Definitely expect to see him and Ryan named tomorrow (convenient backup for Gatty)

I see the game now !

What about the theory that the Zeebster was left out of the Lions squad so that the Aussies dont take him into their tactics, but that an 'injury' to one of the selected backs is already planned, so that Zebo can be unleashed on unprepared Aus in the first test ?

TheGoldenAges

Hopefully they'll give the Lions a right old game!

leonard7

freddie burns maybe to get a call up or baas?

athtrasna

Almaviva wrote: »

I see the game now !

What about the theory that the Zeebster was left out of the Lions squad so that the Aussies dont take him into their tactics, but that an 'injury' to one of the selected backs is already planned, so that Zebo can be unleashed on unprepared Aus in the first test ?

So having him in Hong Kong at the start of the tour would be very convenient

Almaviva

athtrasna wrote: »

So having him in Hong Kong at the start of the tour would be very convenient

Of course. I have been so naive. Simzeb is effectively already selected for the Lions first test starting 15, but canny WG is keeping him hidden from the enemy behind a hill, ready to swoop in and be a legendary Lion. So obvious now.

conf101

Could Christian Wade be in line to be called up as an uncapped player?

P_1

Almaviva wrote: »

Of course. I have been so naive. Simzeb is effectively already selected for the Lions first test starting 15, but canny WG is keeping him hidden from the enemy behind a hill, ready to swoop in and be a legendary Lion. So obvious now.

Is the hill a grassy knoll by any chance?

CGD

conf101 wrote: »

Could Christian Wade be in line to be called up as an uncapped player?

Yeah you wuld have to fancy him getting a run!

.ak

Almaviva wrote: »

Of course. I have been so naive. Simzeb is effectively already selected for the Lions first test starting 15, but canny WG is keeping him hidden from the enemy behind a hill, ready to swoop in and be a legendary Lion. So obvious now.

All right, we get it, my sarcasm detector is about to blow...

Tomtom364

Apparently central contracts are hindering the baa baas. As a result only Jared Payne and BJ Botha are involved from Irish clubs.

2 more players to be announced after various play off matches.

athtrasna

@Barbarian_FC
Lots of big finals, overseas tours & central contracts. Nobody's fault. Still v v keen to include who we can from ireland!

Does this mean the IRFU think Zebo & Ryan will get more out of a tour to the USA than playing for the Baabaas? :rolleyes:

Named this morning: Yachvili, Ngwenya, M Rees, M Wentzel, S Jones, J Payne, F Louw, BJ Botha, D Jones

Fourie (announced previously) has withdrawn from the squad.

bilston

Why would Madigan or Zebo ever be allowed to play in this? They will be in North America or at least prepping for it.

totallegend

athtrasna wrote: »

Does this mean the IRFU think Zebo & Ryan will get more out of a tour to the USA than playing for the Baabaas?

Were either Ryan or Zebo touted as potential selections?

I'd say the IRFU think "we're paying these lads to play rugby for us, not to go flouncing off to Hong Kong on a week-long boozing session".

TBH, I'd agree; the trip to USA and Canada is going to struggle to be meaningful anyway, but if it's a totally second-string side, then its value is totally undermined. We should be sending the strongest side possible over, so that means anyone who's not on Lions duty and has a couple of years left on the clock should be going to USA.

wp_rathead

Would like to see o'concrete get a run with the baabaa's

Clareman

They can't send too many development players to the US though as there's another tournament on in Georgia as well.

athtrasna

They clarified further

We are disappointed as well. Still hope for at least one. Central deals make insurance etc much harder

I'd rather see the lads play for the Baabaas against the Lions than go on a Mickey Mouse tour to the US, particularly the Munster guys seeing as the season is well over. With a new coach coming in for Ireland, the learning potential of the US tour is diminished, much more will be learned in Carton House in the autumn.

.ak

athtrasna wrote: »

They clarified further

I'd rather see the lads play for the Baabaas against the Lions than go on a Mickey Mouse tour to the US, particularly the Munster guys seeing as the season is well over. With a new coach coming in for Ireland, the learning potential of the US tour is diminished, much more will be learned in Carton House in the autumn.

Why? They'll learn nothing from going to play for a hobbled together expo team. They'll learn far more being based in an international setup, traveling with them, and getting exposure to the international stage. It doesn't really matter who the opposition is. Besides, getting some decent rhythm even against minnow sides is very valuable.

Grimebox

athtrasna wrote: »

They clarified further

I'd rather see the lads play for the Baabaas against the Lions than go on a Mickey Mouse tour to the US, particularly the Munster guys seeing as the season is well over. With a new coach coming in for Ireland, the learning potential of the US tour is diminished, much more will be learned in Carton House in the autumn.

Learning potential for two games as part of the Barbarians is almost negligible. A mercenary team that have two training sessions before the games are about as mickey mouse as you can get. I find them entertaining but they are some of the most fruitless games out there.

bilston

athtrasna wrote: »

They clarified further

I'd rather see the lads play for the Baabaas against the Lions than go on a Mickey Mouse tour to the US, particularly the Munster guys seeing as the season is well over. With a new coach coming in for Ireland, the learning potential of the US tour is diminished, much more will be learned in Carton House in the autumn.

Sorry but we're trying to build a squad for next season and the 2015 WC, it is vital that anyone not selected for the Lions goes to North America. These are test matches. Why on earth would the IRFU allow players to put an exhibition match for Barbabrians ahead of test matches for Ireland?

Larbre34

I agree, Barbarians is a luxury, perfect for the likes of Marcus Horan and Johnny O'Connor but not active test players

The North American tour isnt Mickey Mouse, (despite the disney like advert playing in Texas for the Heuston match). They need to be looking at new combos and systems right away, as by the time the Autumn series comes around, the Lions guys wont have a lot of rugby under their belt. Canada will be a gnarly enough test up front, great opportunity for the likes of Henderson and Kilcoyne to enjoy some positive games

Riskymove

No Irish players in Baa baa squad

.ak

Riskymove wrote: »

No Irish players in Baa baa squad

With the Lions and two summer tours on the plate, plus a potential all Ireland final at the end of the season, I'm not surprised.

connundrum

.ak wrote: »

With the Lions and two summer tours on the plate, plus a potential all Ireland final at the end of the season, I'm not surprised.

This.

Although the Barbarians' twitter account did state that at least 1 Irish player would be involved. Maybe they meant Irish 'based' player i.e. Botha.. but then there's Payne too?!

irishbucsfan

connundrum wrote: »

This.

Although the Barbarians' twitter account did state that at least 1 Irish player would be involved. Maybe they meant Irish 'based' player i.e. Botha.. but then there's Payne too?!

Could be one Irish based foreign player or one foreign based Irish player.

Like Geordan Murphy or Peter Stringer?

Fireball07

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Could be one Irish based foreign player or one foreign based Irish player.

Like Geordan Murphy or Peter Stringer?

I'd like to see Murphy play for the BaaBaas.


That aside, it's a strong-looking selection...some world class players there. Must be one of the stronger BaaBaas sides in recent times. Probably better than the Lions...

astonaidan

Not happy at all, wanted ROG

Grimebox

astonaidan wrote: »

Not happy at all, wanted ROG

Sure ROG will be over in the US

Teferi

Grimebox wrote: »

Sure ROG will be over in the US

I wouldn't count on that. Madigan and PJ probably.

Grimebox

Teferi wrote: »

I wouldn't count on that. Madigan and PJ probably.

Sorry forgot to add: :pac:

athtrasna

That's the thing - ROG, Stringer, Horan, O'Callaghan and a few others are unlikely to go on the summer tour and are certainly beyond "development" but closer to retirement. Strange that none of them have been included (leaving out the likes of Cullen & Nacewa due to the clash with the England match)

Grimebox

Stringer has played for them already for one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t-ZERw4K8s

irishbucsfan

Why on earth would the Barbarians select Marcus Horan?

Podge_irl

athtrasna wrote: »

That's the thing - ROG, Stringer, Horan, O'Callaghan and a few others are unlikely to go on the summer tour and are certainly beyond "development" but closer to retirement. Strange that none of them have been included (leaving out the likes of Cullen & Nacewa due to the clash with the England match)

Horan, ROG, Cullen and to a slightly lesser degree DOC would be completely out of place with the squad selected.