I enjoy Barbarian matches. It's fun rugby often producing unexpected results. It's relaxed rugby where there is freedom to play without tense pressure often producing some attractive rugby. It's not everybody's cup of tea but I enjoy it.
So far it's likely to include the following selections, so I read...SA - Kitshoff, Malherbe, Marx and Vermeulen. Arg - Matera. Austr - Cooper, Ikitau, White and Samu.
Wonder who the others will be ? Probably another 4 from NZ, the other 2 and reserves ???
Samoa have pulled out of their Autumn fixtures, Seb.
Baabaas are trying to find an alternative team to play.
I believe so Becs and Quade Cooper has pulled out of the BaaBaas side too. Over 30000 tickets have been sold however. Maybe Georgia would be an even better replacement or USA Eagles?
The intention of BaaBaas has always to give lower Tier sides an exposure to an assortment mix of Tier 1 players in a fun game or am I wrong?
As far as I know, and I could be wrong, there hasn’t been a statement to say they have found an alternative team to play, as yet.
BaaBaas don’t always play international teams; they play the Mobbs match against an East Midlands side every year and always played Leicester on Boxing Day until professionalism put a stop to that one .
The whole ethos seems to have changed and that’s very sad to see.
1:51pm, 04 October 2021
Samoa’s scheduled autumn tour has been cancelled due to Governmental health and travel advice relating to COVID-19.
This means their visit to Georgia on November 6 plus subsequent games with Uruguay and Spain will not take place.
However, although the full Samoan national team will not face the Barbarians at Twickenham, it seems likely that “a Manu Samoa selection” will instead take the field.
This November 27 clash will, according to the Lakapi Samoa press release, “involve Europe-based players and coaches.”
Sources suggest that upwards of 30,000 tickets are already sold for this game in which Australian star Quade Cooper plus Springboks Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx and Duane Vermeulen plus the Pumas’ Pablo Matera are reported to be appearing for the Baa Baas.
Lakapi Samoa CEO Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai said the Board was left with little option.
“Lakapi Samoa was not able to guarantee the safety of any of our players
and management whilst on campaign and the current State of Emergency measures by the Government restricts the return of anyone within six months of contacting the virus,” he said.
“This was a major obstacle to keep our borders safe. We do accept the implications and scale of consequences the pandemic can have to our small Head coach Seilala Mapusua said health considerations had to come first.
“It’s disappointing and really tough for our players, fans and our hosting Unions,” he said.
country with limited resources.”
