New Zealand Barbarians v British & Irish Lions, 3 June

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New Zealand Barbarians v British & Irish Lions
3 June 2017
KO: 19:35 NZST (8.35am BST)
Toll Stadium, Whangarei, North Island

Live on Sky Sports, Sky Sports HD and SkyGo

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Touch judges: [tbc]
TMO: [tbc]

A. FORM:

These teams have not played each other before.

B. TEAMS:

New Zealand Barbarians 
1. Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty)
2. Sam Anderson-Heather - captain (Otago)
3. Oliver Jager (Canterbury)
4. Josh Goodhue (Northland)
5. Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty)
6. James Tucker (Waikato)
7. Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
8. Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)

9. Jack Stratton (Canterbury)
10. Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)
11. Sevu Reece (Waikato)
12. Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato)
13. Inga Finau (Canterbury)
14. Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau)
15. Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau)

16. Andrew Makalio (Tasman)
17. Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington)
18. Marcel Renata (Auckland)
19. Matt Matich (Northland)
20. Peter Rowe - vice captain (Wanganui)
21. Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty)
22. Jonah Lowe (Hawke's Bay)
23. Junior Ngaluafe (Southland)

British & Irish Lions
15. S Hogg (Scotland)
14. A Watson
13. J Joseph
12. B Te'o (all Eng)
11. T Seymour (Sco)
10. J Sexton (Ire)
09. G Laidlaw (Sco)

01. J Marler (Eng)
02. R Best (Ire)
03. K Sinckler (Eng)
04. A Jones (Wal)
05. I Henderson (Ire)
06. R Moriarty
07. S Warburton
08. T Faletau (all Wal)

16. J George
17. M Vunipola (both Eng)
18. T Furlong (Ire)
19. G Kruis (Eng)
20. J Tipuric
21. R Webb (both Wal)
22. O Farrell (Eng)
23. J Payne (Ire)


C. PREVIEW

Babas squad now final:

Forwards: Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty), Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington), Sam Anderson-Heather (Otago), Andrew Makalio (Tasman), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Oliver Jager (Canterbury), Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty), Joshua Goodhue (Northland), James Tucker (Waikato), Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), Matthew Matich (Northland), Peter Rowe (Wanganui)

Backs: Jack Stratton (Canterbury), Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty), Bryn Gatland (North Harbour), Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato Kaveinga Finau (Inga) (Canterbury), Jonah Lowe (Hawkes Bay) Sevuloni Reece (Waikato), Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau), Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau), Junior Ngaluafe (Southland)

So much for the Super Rugby franchises allowing their players to be selected for this. Six players – Hame Faiva, Quentin Strange, Mitch Brown, Heiden Bedwell Curtis, Jonathan Taumateine and Johnny Fa'auli – were withdrawn by their Super Rugby teams after initially being named last month.

Nice feature on the provincial side:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/93046105/billeting-and-beers-provincial-new-zealand-welcomes-the-touring-lions-return-to-the-grassroots

Oliver Jager is the only European in the squad. Would be interesting if he ends up getting capped by Ireland in the future.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Oliver Jager is the only European in the squad. Would be interesting if he ends up getting capped by Ireland in the future.

Born in London.

Is he any good? I wonder if he's on Eddie's radar?

Cyril wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Oliver Jager is the only European in the squad. Would be interesting if he ends up getting capped by Ireland in the future.

Born in London.

Is he any good? I wonder if he's on Eddie's radar?

I wonder if he's on the Dutch or Kiwi radars?

All our bases covered now?

Team is being announced at 8pm tonight.

Cyril wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Oliver Jager is the only European in the squad. Would be interesting if he ends up getting capped by Ireland in the future.

Born in London.

Is he any good? I wonder if he's on Eddie's radar?

Does that mean he is eligible to play for England automatically? His parents aren't English I don't think and he probably doesn't have a British passport. I think he still has a Dutch passport though.

He was previously in the Leinster schools side but was not good enough to make it into the academy but he did make it into the Canterbury academy so he cant be too bad.

Team's up - all 3 Scots starting https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/869992296468463616?s=09

RDW_Scotland wrote:Team's up - all 3 Scots starting https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/869992296468463616?s=09

Only 2 changes from the team you suggested... Nice going bud

That's a strong 23 alright.

mikey_dragon wrote:That's a strong 23 alright.

Do you think Gatland is giving Sexton this game to try and prove his fitness and form or protecting Farrell?

The starting XV includes six 2013 Lions and a further three on the bench with the side captained by Sam Warburton.

Commenting on his first team selection Warren Gatland said: “We are all hugely excited about the first game on tour, it’s a great opportunity for the starting XV and the whole match day squad to lay down a marker and get the tour off to a good start.

“We have named a side that showcases a strong combination of experience and youth and we are really looking forward to Saturday.

“We are lucky to have some real leaders in the squad and to be able to select them for this match in the likes of Rory Best, Alun Wyn Jones and Greig Laidlaw.



“I’m looking forward to seeing what Greig can do alongside Johnny Sexton who both are experienced half-backs. It is also great to have Sam starting in the first game of the tour, something he didn’t do in 2013 and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do this weekend.

“The balance of the squad is really good, we have selected the majority of players who were together for the training weeks in Wales and Ireland and they have worked together and prepared well for a number of weeks.

“It is important these guys get a run early and lay down a marker for others to follow.

“We’ve picked the team for Saturday but it is still the plan to try and give the whole squad a start in the next two matches. It is important the players get that opportunity, because if they go well and the team goes well, they put themselves in the shop window for a Test start.”

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

1 Joe Marler – Harlequins, England
2 Rory Best – Ulster, Ireland, #793
3 Kyle Sinckler – Harlequins, England
4 Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys, Wales, #761
5 Iain Henderson – Ulster, Ireland
6 Ross Moriarty – Gloucester Rugby, Wales
7 Sam Warburton – Cardiff Blues, Wales, #800
8 Taulupe Faletau – Bath Rugby, Wales, #779

9 Greig Laidlaw – Gloucester Rugby, Scotland
10 Johnny Sexton – Leinster, Ireland, #791
11 Tommy Seymour – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland
12 Ben Te’o – Worcester Warriors, England
13 Jonathan Joseph – Bath Rugby, England
14 Anthony Watson – Bath Rugby, England
15 Stuart Hogg – Glasgow Warriors, Scotland, #783

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Team's up - all 3 Scots starting https://twitter.com/lionsofficial/status/869992296468463616?s=09

Only 2 changes from the team you suggested... Nice going bud

Yes well done ANDY

I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

Hoping for a huge performance from Sinckler.

I see Jamie George is in his specialist position of bench...

robbo277 wrote:Hoping for a huge performance from Sinckler.

I see Jamie George is in his specialist position of bench...

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

You are joking right?

Obviously this isn't some sort of president's XV and this is NZ not OZ or RSA, but they're going to be a collection of plucky local hero's who'll have the games of their lives. Lions by atleast 30+, more likely 50+

This is only a lose situation if we actually lose, but they're going to win an get the tour off to the best possible of starts - hopefully with no more than a few niggles.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Cyril wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Oliver Jager is the only European in the squad. Would be interesting if he ends up getting capped by Ireland in the future.

Born in London.

Is he any good? I wonder if he's on Eddie's radar?

Does that mean he is eligible to play for England automatically? His parents aren't English I don't think and he probably doesn't have a British passport. I think he still has a Dutch passport though.

He was previously in the Leinster schools side but was not good enough to make it into the academy but he did make it into the Canterbury academy so he cant be too bad.

If he was born in England he is definitely qualified to play for England under World Rugby regulations just like most of the Welsh team . He is not however qualified under England's rules unless he moves to England to play.

World Rugby Regulation 8
Subject to Regulation 8.2, a Player may only play for the senior fifteen-aside National Representative Team, the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team and the senior National Representative Sevens Team of the Union of the country in which: (a) he was born; or (b) one parent or grandparent was born; or (c) he has completed thirty six consecutive months of Residence immediately preceding the time of playing.

kingelderfield wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

You are joking right?

Obviously this isn't some sort of president's XV and this is NZ not OZ or RSA, but they're going to be a collection of plucky local hero's who'll have the games of their lives. Lions by atleast 30+, more likely 50+

This is only a lose situation if we actually lose, but they're going to win an get the tour off to the best possible of starts - hopefully with no more than a few niggles.

Not joking but not massively serious either - you're right that they're going to throw everything at this and to be fair as long as we win relatively comfortably and don't pick up any injuries I'll be happy.

i think these players are in pole position, they start off in the "Saturday team", after starting this game sexton will not start any of the midweek games. They will see the crusaders and maori as the 2 biggest challenges both of which are on a saturday, so although marginal I think these players have an advantage.

Another point is that the back row has all played together and sexton has played with Teo'o who has played with JJ for england therefore the important combinations should know each other well enough

RDW_Scotland wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

You are joking right?

Obviously this isn't some sort of president's XV and this is NZ not OZ or RSA, but they're going to be a collection of plucky local hero's who'll have the games of their lives. Lions by atleast 30+, more likely 50+

This is only a lose situation if we actually lose, but they're going to win an get the tour off to the best possible of starts - hopefully with no more than a few niggles.

Not joking but not massively serious either - you're right that they're going to throw everything at this and to be fair as long as we win relatively comfortably and don't pick up any injuries I'll be happy.

These games do scare me as the opposition is inexperienced but very keen and mad to make a name for themselves. Its Sexton that I fear for the most as he never takes a backward step and will meet any challenge head on... literally...

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

I'd tend to agree. You certainly can't cement your place by playing in this game, but you can ruin your chances completely. This could be planned as a way to cull a few players from test considerations.

This is probably the only game where the Lions will be favourites so the pressure is on (especially with it being the first game and everyone a bit nervous).

The NZ Barbarians lads will be out to make a name for themselves. Could be tasty.

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I suppose it is a bit of a lose-lose situation for these players - if they run rampant people will write it off against poor opposition, if they struggle to gel and only get a 20 point win (which could happen) people will say they've blown their chances!

You are joking right?

Obviously this isn't some sort of president's XV and this is NZ not OZ or RSA, but they're going to be a collection of plucky local hero's who'll have the games of their lives. Lions by atleast 30+, more likely 50+

This is only a lose situation if we actually lose, but they're going to win an get the tour off to the best possible of starts - hopefully with no more than a few niggles.

Not joking but not massively serious either - you're right that they're going to throw everything at this and to be fair as long as we win relatively comfortably and don't pick up any injuries I'll be happy.

These games do scare me as the opposition is inexperienced but very keen and mad to make a name for themselves. Its Sexton that I fear for the most as he never takes a backward step and will meet any challenge head on... literally...

I wouldn't want anyone playing for the Lions that didn't do that, I don't think this only applies to Sexton ?

Loving the look of that back 3. Powerful pack too, bags of experience at half back, and a mix of pace and power in midfield.

Tasty first team for the Lions.

munkian wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

These games do scare me as the opposition is inexperienced but very keen and mad to make a name for themselves. Its Sexton that I fear for the most as he never takes a backward step and will meet any challenge head on... literally...

I wouldn't want anyone playing for the Lions that didn't do that, I don't think this only applies to Sexton ?

I may not be making myself clear, opposition players target Sexton and have done for years. Part of Sextons problem is that he will look for the contact, he is a very aggressive player and generally gets injured due to this.

This is no slight on any other players...

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:That's a strong 23 alright.

Do you think Gatland is giving Sexton this game to try and prove his fitness and form or protecting Farrell?

Possibly both, and I think some others in the starting team are also there to prove fitness and form. Warburton being an obvious one.

mikey_dragon wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:That's a strong 23 alright.

Do you think Gatland is giving Sexton this game to try and prove his fitness and form or protecting Farrell?

Possibly both, and I think some others in the starting team are also there to prove fitness and form. Warburton being an obvious one.

Just find it odd starting Sexton with Farrell on the bench. In my opinion, these two are in direct competition as starting 10's in the tests v the AB's. Very surprised not to see Biggar on the bench at least so I can only assume Gatland is trying to test Sexton's fitness and form.

Warburton is for match fitness as well I feel, expect to see him only play 50mins and be swapped for Tipuric.

eirebilly wrote:

munkian wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

These games do scare me as the opposition is inexperienced but very keen and mad to make a name for themselves. Its Sexton that I fear for the most as he never takes a backward step and will meet any challenge head on... literally...

I wouldn't want anyone playing for the Lions that didn't do that, I don't think this only applies to Sexton ?

I may not be making myself clear, opposition players target Sexton and have done for years. Part of Sextons problem is that he will look for the contact, he is a very aggressive player and generally gets injured due to this.

This is no slight on any other players...

 Perhaps Sexton will target Gatland?

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:That's a strong 23 alright.

Do you think Gatland is giving Sexton this game to try and prove his fitness and form or protecting Farrell?

Possibly both, and I think some others in the starting team are also there to prove fitness and form. Warburton being an obvious one.

Just find it odd starting Sexton with Farrell on the bench. In my opinion, these two are in direct competition as starting 10's in the tests v the AB's. Very surprised not to see Biggar on the bench at least so I can only assume Gatland is trying to test Sexton's fitness and form.

Warburton is for match fitness as well I feel, expect to see him only play 50mins and be swapped for Tipuric.

Farrell will come off the bench on sat at 12 and come off bench on Tuesday at 10 ? Dont think he needs to prove fitness

CraigS1874 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:That's a strong 23 alright.

Do you think Gatland is giving Sexton this game to try and prove his fitness and form or protecting Farrell?

Possibly both, and I think some others in the starting team are also there to prove fitness and form. Warburton being an obvious one.

Just find it odd starting Sexton with Farrell on the bench. In my opinion, these two are in direct competition as starting 10's in the tests v the AB's. Very surprised not to see Biggar on the bench at least so I can only assume Gatland is trying to test Sexton's fitness and form.

Warburton is for match fitness as well I feel, expect to see him only play 50mins and be swapped for Tipuric.

Farrell will come off the bench on sat at 12 and come off bench on Tuesday at 10 ? Dont think he needs to prove fitness

I think Sexton does need to prove his fitness, he was injured in the Semi Final of the Pro-12 against the Scarlets and in return, had a shocker.

eirebilly wrote:

CraigS1874 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:That's a strong 23 alright.

Do you think Gatland is giving Sexton this game to try and prove his fitness and form or protecting Farrell?

Possibly both, and I think some others in the starting team are also there to prove fitness and form. Warburton being an obvious one.

Just find it odd starting Sexton with Farrell on the bench. In my opinion, these two are in direct competition as starting 10's in the tests v the AB's. Very surprised not to see Biggar on the bench at least so I can only assume Gatland is trying to test Sexton's fitness and form.

Warburton is for match fitness as well I feel, expect to see him only play 50mins and be swapped for Tipuric.

Farrell will come off the bench on sat at 12 and come off bench on Tuesday at 10 ? Dont think he needs to prove fitness

I think Sexton does need to prove his fitness, he was injured in the Semi Final of the Pro-12 against the Scarlets and in return, had a shocker.

Apologises I was meaning he doesnt need to start Farrel cause there are no doubts about Farrels fitness

Nee bother bud

Looks like a bench eliminator team. The Test team will start next Saturday with a few bench places to be decided over the first two games (Warbs excepted).
Expect Laidlaw, Wyn Jones or Best to be the dirt tracker captain.

Prediction of Lions v Provincial Barbarians XV on 29 May
15 Hogg 14. Watson 13 Joseph 12 Te'o 11 Seymour 10 Biggar 9 Laidlaw
1.Marler 2 Best 3 Sinckler 4 Henderson 5 Jones 6 Tipuric 7 Warburton 8 Faletau
Reps: 16 Owens 17 Vunipola, 18 Cole 19 Kruis 20 Moriarty 21 Webb 22 Farrell 23 Payne

Hmmm - close enough.

The Great Aukster wrote:Expect Laidlaw, Wyn Jones or Best to be the dirt tracker captain.

It won't be Wyn Jones. Like it or not he's in the test squad (if fit). The other two are likely though. Possibly both for alternating games.

OP updated.

Hope it's a good game and a nice event. This game means a lot to the region as Whangarei really is the sticks and this is a very big deal for them. Having visited Paihia and the Bay of Islands, I mean that in the nicest possible way.

CraigS1874 wrote:i think these players are in pole position, they start off in the "Saturday team", after starting this game sexton will not start any of the midweek games. They will see the crusaders and maori as the 2 biggest challenges both of which  are on a saturday, so although marginal I think these players have an advantage.

Another point is that the back row has all played together and sexton has played with Teo'o who has played with JJ for england therefore the important combinations should know each other well enough

I think certainly by the Maori game he'll want his test team all but in place.

However, taking 10 as an example, because there are 3 players competing for the shirt he'll need to use the next 2 games (including the Crusaders game) as his "trials" to test each guy out. E.g.

vs NZ Barbarians - Sexton
vs Blues - Biggar
vs Crusaders - Farrell
Then he needs to rank his fly halves
vs Highlanders - 2nd choice fly half
vs Maori - 1st choice fly half
Vs Chiefs - 3rd choice fly half - as it's only 4 days before the first test

Slight complications arise if someone picks up a knock or he decides Farrell is a 12, in which case the non-test 10 would play the Highlanders and the Chiefs.

Where there are two players competing for the same position, e.g. 8 (Faletau and Stander), Gatland can rotate week to week. Again, he'll want his test 8 starting against the Maori most likely, and his back-up 8 starting against the Chiefs, but other than that it doesn't matter too much. He could start Stander against the Blues and the Crusaders to get him into position as the test 8 if he wanted, or against both the Highlanders and the Maori. Similarly, he could just play Faletau every Saturday.

I don't think we can read too much into test selection from here, as players haven't been considered if they were involved in finals. By the end of the Crusaders game he should have a good idea of what his test side is, and then we might see some of them sit out the Highlanders to be ready for the Maori.

Interesting side, looking forward to seeing it finally kick off. Can't imagine the lads being in great shape though after very little time together.

I'm looking forward to seeing how Sinkler, Henderson, Moriarty, Teo and Seymour go.

All 5 are outsiders for the test squad at best, but all have a great energy to impact a game.

There was a lot of chat in the media when the squad was announced that Teo was in line for a test start - apparently because he knows SBW very well...

RDW_Scotland wrote:There was a lot of chat in the media when the squad was announced that Teo was in line for a test start - apparently because he knows SBW very well...

Teo nearly took SBW's head off his shoulders in a 'tackle' during a league game. They have a lot of unfinished bidness apparently.

Is SBW even playing well enough to start?

BamBam wrote:Is SBW even playing well enough to start?

Nope. Bench maybe - he'll be in the squad

NZ media guys are all picking him mind. Mutter mutter mutter

To be fair Teo would certainly be a surprise pick but you could see it happening if he plays well in the warm up games - Gatland loves a big 12 and he's got more to his game than Jamie Roberts, and if you put JJ at 13 with an exciting back 3 then there would be good balance.

I'd still pick Henshaw at 12 but there is a long way to go before the first test.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Interesting side, looking forward to seeing it finally kick off. Can't imagine the lads being in great shape though after very little time together.

From what I can see, the bulk of the starting XV (13?) have been together since Gatland convened his training camp week commencing 12th May - so those guys have had more time together.

LondonTiger wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Interesting side, looking forward to seeing it finally kick off. Can't imagine the lads being in great shape though after very little time together.

From what I can see, the bulk of the starting XV (13?) have been together since Gatland convened his training camp week commencing 12th May - so those guys have had more time together.

The Kiwi press pointed out that the Barbarians have only been together since Tuesday of this week.

George Carlin wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Interesting side, looking forward to seeing it finally kick off. Can't imagine the lads being in great shape though after very little time together.

From what I can see, the bulk of the starting XV (13?) have been together since Gatland convened his training camp week commencing 12th May - so those guys have had more time together.

The Kiwi press pointed out that the Barbarians have only been together since Tuesday of this week.

Im going to put it out there that there is slightly more pressure and expectation on the Lions than a Kiwi pub team....

Bench is stronger than the starting line up unsurprisingly!

4 of the front five I want to see starting in the 1st test.

beshocked wrote:Bench is stronger than the starting line up unsurprisingly!

4 of the front five I want to see starting in the 1st test.

I haven't even seen the bench but now know that George, Mako and Kruis must be on it

Replacements
16 Jamie George – Saracens, England
17 Mako Vunipola – Saracens, England, #787
18 Tadhg Furlong – Leinster, Ireland
19 George Kruis – Saracens, England
20 Justin Tipuric – Ospreys, Wales, #786
21 Rhys Webb – Ospreys, Wales
22 Owen Farrell – Saracens, England, #780
23 Jared Payne – Ulster, Ireland

To be fair he's probably correct in what he's saying - Mako, Furlong and Kruis are probably more likely to be test players than Marler, Sinkler and Henderson.