Australia v Baa-Baas: Teams
Australian coach Robbie Deans is relishing taking on an experienced Barbarians' side in Sydney on Saturday.
Last Updated: 05/06/09 12:11pm
Australian coach Robbie Deans is relishing the challenge of launching his side's domestic season against an experienced Barbarians' team on Saturday.
The New Zealander is attempting to mould the Wallabies into title contenders for the 2011 World Cup in his homeland.
Another rung on this learning curve will see his side pit their wits against one of the Barbarians' best-ever combinations.
The invitational side boasts a total of 775 Test caps and includes two current Wallaby backrowers, Phil Waugh and Rocky Elsom.
It will be the 11th time the Wallabies have played the Baa-Baas - with the Australians winning their last six encounters - but Deans believes this counts for nothing.
Dangerous
He said: "They are going to be the complete package. It will be straight into the deep end from our perspective and in every way because they are seasoned internationals."
Deans added that some of the players in the Barbarians' line-up would try to prove that they can still play at international level, which would make them dangerous.
"Some are going back into international rugby," he said. "There is an onus on them to show they can still cut it.
"There is nothing more intense than mate on mate. And they have points to prove as well."
Ready
Combative 77-Test nine-year veteran Waugh is captaining the vastly experienced Barbarians' side.
He is predicting a fierce battle at the breakdown with Elsom, New Zealander Jerry Collins and himself taking on the mobile Wallaby trio of Richard Brown, George Smith and debutant Matt Hodgson.
"Weight-wise, height-wise and size-wise we would have an advantage, but it's going to be a quick game and mobility is important," he said.
The international contingent will have controversial rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams in the centres up against Wallaby skipper Stirling Mortlock.
The Barbarians will also have Irishman Geordan Murphy at fullback, All Black Luke McAlister taking on Matt Giteau at fly-half, while England's 2003 World Cup winners, Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey, will be making their international farewells.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 David Pocock, 20 Josh Valentine, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 James O'Connor
Barbarians: 15 Geordan Murphy (Leicester Tigers, Ireland), 14 Iain Balshaw (Gloucester, England), 13 Sonny Bill Williams (Toulon), 12 Seilala Mapusua (London Irish, Samoa), 11 Josh Lewsey (London Wasps, England), 10 Luke McAlister (Sale Sharks, New Zealand), 9 Chris Whitaker (Leinster, Australia), 8 Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, Australia), 7 Phil Waugh (Waratahs, Australia - captain), 6 Jerry Collins (Toulon, New Zealand), 5 Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), 4 Chris Jack (Saracens, New Zealand), 3 BJ Botha (Ulster, South Africa), 2 Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks, France), 1 Clarke Dermody (London Irish, New Zealand).
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits (Stormers, South Africa), 17 Greg Somerville (Gloucester, New Zealand), 18 Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers, England), 19 Serge Betsen (London Wasps, France), 20 Justin Marshall (Saracens, New Zealand), 21 Glen Jackson (Saracens), 22 Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues, New Zealand).