ARU announces Australian Barbarians squad for upcoming encounter against Canada - Rugby
The governing body of the Rugby Union in Australia, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), has announced the Australian Barbarians squad for their weekend encounter against the Canadian national
Rugby Union team.
Canada will take on the Barbarians at Skilled Park on Friday, August 26, as part of their preparation for their 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign.
ARU has announced the powerful squad on Saturday, August 21. Officials at the ARU have confirmed the details of the squad in a statement released on their website Saturday. The squad mostly
consists of Australian international players and the combined number of tests caps of the players is 407.
Wallabies international second row forward and Western Force’s captain, Nathan Sharpe, is appointed as the captain for the Barbarian's Friday encounter against Canada.
Besides Sharpe, the squad contains six other players who have been named in Robbie Deans final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC campaign.
Wallabies head coach, Robbie Deans, has termed Friday’s game as a great opportunity for young players and for the players who are returning from injuries to get some match fitness. He added
that the performance of the players in the Friday’s match will help them to secure a place in the Wallabies match 22 for their RWC’s campaign.
Deans added, “History suggests that we will sustain injuries during a schedule as demanding as that which we face in New Zealand. We have to have alternatives who are ready to go if that proves
to be the case. Friday night allows a wider group of players, outside of the Test squad, to gain international exposure while also keeping them all connected to the overall campaign.”
Besides this, Wallabies will host the All Blacks at the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday, August 27, as part of the ongoing 2011 Tri Nations competition.
The Australian Barbarians squad named for their Friday encounter against the Canada consists of the following players,
Starting XV: 15. Lachie Turner (NSW Waratahs), 14. Rod Davies (Queensland Reds), 13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs), 12. Matt Giteau (Brumbies), 11. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs), 10.
Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs), 9. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels), 8. Pat McCutcheon (NSW Waratahs), 7. Matt Hodgson (Western Force), 6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs), 5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force, captain), 4. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs), 3. James Slipper
(Queensland Reds), 2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs), 1. Ben Daley (Queensland Reds).
Replacements: 16. James Hanson (Queensland Reds), 17. Pekahou Cowan (Western Force), 18. Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), 19. Beau Robinson (Queensland Reds), 20. Ben Tapuai (Queensland
Reds), 21. Luke Morahan (Queensland Reds), 22. Mark Gerrard (Melbourne Rebels).
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