Barbarians add Kiwi talent for South Africa clash at Wembley
Wednesday 19 October 2016 16:11, UK
The Barbarians have included seven Kiwis in their squad for their game against South Africa as they look to pile more pain on the Springboks just a week before they face England.
South Africa suffered a 57-17 hammering to New Zealand in their last Test in Durban and are set to come up against more Kiwis at Wembley Stadium on November 5.
Forwards Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa and Reggie Goodes join from Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes, while the Highlanders provide loose-forward Luke Whitelock and centre Matt Fades. Crusaders duo Richard Mo'unga and Jordan Taufua are also included.
Baa-Baas coach Robbie Deans had already named former All Blacks scrum-half Andy Ellis and two Australians, lock Will Skelton and winger Taquele Naiyaravoro, in his squad for the Killik Cup clash and says the Super Rugby contingent will be hungry to impress.
"This is a talented group of young men with the potential to play at the very highest level and they will all be hungry to impress in their time with the Barbarians," Deans said.
"Alongside the more experienced players in the squad we should have a very competitive group."
Shields starred for the Hurricanes and will be among those hoping to push their case for a spot in the All Blacks squad, alongside mobile prop Goodes, who has made 60 Super Rugby appearances.
Lock Fatialofa enjoyed a breakthrough rookie season with 15 appearances in Super Rugby while flanker Taufua is rated as a back row competitor for Jerome Kaino in Steve Hansen's New Zealand side.
This will be the the eighth time the Baa-Baas have played the Boks since 1952 and currently lead the series 4-3. A win for the Barbarians will make it a hat-trick of victories after beating South Africa in 2007 and 2010.
Will Greenwood joins Deans in the coaching ranks for the Barbarians, who will also play the Czech Republic in Prague on November 8 and Fiji in Belfast three days later.
