Sam Whitelock of and Shota Horie of the Barbarians together with Robbie Deans head coach of the Barbarians, 2024. Photo: Steven Flynn / PHOTOSPORT
Barbarians coach Robbie Deans has picked a side that contains six former All Blacks and another five New Zealanders for this weekend's game [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/559773/springboks-to-face-deans-coached-barbarians-in-cape-town
against South Africa in Cape Town].
There are eight players in the starting 15 with another three in the reserves.
Former All Blacks skipper Sam Cane starts on the openside with Shannon Frizell at number eight.
2015 World Cup-winning halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow plays inside Chiefs first five Josh Jacomb, while outside them are Peter Umaga-Jensen, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Mark Tele'a and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins.
Ricky Riccitelli, Hoskins Sotutu and Lachlan Boshier are in the reserves.
Irish backrow great Peter O'Mahony has been named to captain the side. It will be the last time O'Mahony and fellow Irish great Cian Healy will take to the field as professional players.
"This side is packed with experience and exciting players and we are looking forward to going out there and expressing ourselves," Deans said.
"This is the first time a South African crowd have got to see the Barbarians face the Springboks on home soil and it's going to be a great fixture.
"The boys have come in and bonded really well. Those connections will be important against the World Champions."
Barbarians: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkins, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Peter O'Mahony (c), 5 David Ribbans, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Will Collier, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Joe Marchant, 23 Lachlan Boshier
