Baa-baa's to face Lions in June.

The Barbarians have unveiled five players who will take on the British & Irish Lions in June.

Italy duo Sergio Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni have been given the nod and will feature alongside Samoan scrum-half Kahn Fotuali’i. France No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy has also been included while South Africa’s Jaque Fourie will provide some inspiration in the centres. The Barbarians tackle England on May 26 and will then face the Lions on June 1.

I didn't know they were playing England. Should be a good game or two, with AN O'ther at fly-half?

Sadly the Barbarians have become what Barbara Ann has become for modern music: a relic of the past that may have had its time in the sun, but that moment is well and truly over. Players might still get a kick out of playing alongside people they would never otherwise play with but as a fan it conjures up all the surprise of a Kinder egg for me.

The game will provide a much needed hit out for the Lions but as a spectacle it would amount to the same as a inter-squad training match: devoid of any overall meaning or excitement.

For some, this has what the Lions have become as well but for me the fact it is only every four years makes it seem less diluted and more appealing as a marketable game to promote and convince people to watch.

Kia looks like you've just done a Duffy. Like she said;

I'm gonna rain on your parade.

Yeah don't mean to s**t all over your parade mate but even if the Barbarians field a good side, I think it's lost its mojo as a genuine spectacle for the viewing public. I'd love to be more enthusiastic but I'd be lying if I could remember watching the last Barbarians match.

Didn't the Baa Baa's beat NZ in the last game they played, kia?

I agree though Baa Baas's don't do anything for me.

Yeah I think they did mate. Didn't watch it though even though it was a decent side. But believe me my lack of interest happened way before that! Seems too much like an add-on to a tour. Would much prefer to watch a game like NZ vs Munster. Means more to the fans. Baa Baas don't have a concentrated fan base. They're as divergent as the players' socks. Part of the problem in my view.

Actually I'm rather impressed with the 5 listed players; these days they're often filled with has-beens who are out of contract/due to retire at end of season.

If Jonny Wilkinson doesn't get picked for the tour he would be a great addition also. Guys from France, Italy, Argentina etc will not have an opportunity to face the Lions so I can imagine it would be a match people will want to play in.

Both sides will have an equal time to prepare for the match so to be honest, if the Baa Baas can get a decent team together and a little practice I think they could take the Lions all the way.

After some of the sqeaky bum, edge of your seat Rugby (and the associated vitriol that can come attached) i find the end of season's Baa-Baa's game a breathe of fresh air.

Some national aspirants have a run out and you see proven, class international. There's no 'pressure', although it can get heated, and it's all in the name of 'a bit of a laugh'

Can't think of anything any better than Lions vs Baa Baas, looks like some great players in the Baa Baa line up...!

great news. The last and only time that these 2 teams met was at Twickenham in 1977 as a celebration of the Queen's silver jubilee. That Baa-baas team then had some interesting selections such as the great 3 Welsh backs at that time Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies, JPR Williams with an all-French back-row of JP Rives,JC Skrela and JP Bastiat!

Wheres the game being played?

bedfordwelsh wrote:Wheres the game being played?

Hong Kong

Easter, S Armitage and Wilkinson would all be great shouts for the Baa Baa's

In 2 minds about this. It's a gigantic sop to the Lions corporate sponsors, HSBC and nothing more and we shouldn't risk players to injury for something like that. That said, I love the Babas so why not just enjoy it as a spectacle?

I do hope that they choose some B&I players who didn't make the Lions. Nothing better than seeing a national scoring against their home nation.

On a related note, I am quite sad that the Babas shirts won't be made by Cotton Traders any more. That's a long association sadly broken. And FFS, surely they could have found a better sponsor than the plonko that is First Cape Wines?: http://shop.barbarianfc.co.uk/acatalog/Barbarian_FC_Barbarian_FC_Online_Shop_1.html

Mujati
Ford
Sheridan
Botha
Wentzle
Ferris
Armitage
Easter
Care
Morgan
Wade
Twelvetrees
Lamont
Visser
Brown

Would be my Baa Baa's team and it would be gooood! None of this hundreds of SH players malarky.

It should be:

1. Sheridan
2. Du Plessis
3. Castrogiovanni
4. Whitelock
5. Etzebeth
6. Dusatoir
7. McCaw
8. Parisse
9. Fotu'ali
10. Carter
11. Habana
12. Nonu
13. Fourie
14. Fall
15. Dagg

16. Domingo
17. MacArthur
18. Mas
19. Thorn
20. Harinoduquy
21. Smith
22. Lambie
23. Kearney

Got my tickets, looking forward to it, hope they get a good team out