Le Roux Included In Barbarians Side
Ollie Le Roux, who played his part in Leinster’s Magners League-winning season, has been included in the Barbarians team for Tuesday night’s friendly match against Ireland at Gloucester’s Kingsholm ground (kick-off 7.45pm).
Le Roux is part of a Southern Hemisphere-dominated Barbarians team, which will be captained by Australian centre Morgan Turinui.
His former Wallabies team-mate Stephen Larkham will don the number 10 jersey for the invitational side, while there are six English-based players in the line-up including Gloucester and England winger Lesley Vainikolo.
The Baa Baas are being coached for their summer schedule of matches by Cardiff Blues director of rugby David Young. They beat Belgium in their tour opener on Saturday night, winning by 84-10 with former Welsh captain Gareth Thomas scoring four tries.
For Tuesday’s encounter with Ireland, there could be the surprise inclusion of New Zealand back rower Jerry Collins on the Baa Baas’ replacements bench.
It has just been announced that the 27-year-old has been given an early release from his New Zealand Rugby Union contract so a move to Europe could possibly be on the cards for him.
The Barbarians have played Ireland on two previous occasions, winning the Peace International 70-38 in Dublin in 1996 and, four years later, winning 31-30.
Tuesday’s game against Michael Bradley’s charges will be broadcast exclusively live on RTE Two. Tom McGurk will be joined by Brent Pope and George Hook for live coverage of the clash. You can purchase tickets for the game here.
Ireland team details are here.
BARBARIANS (v Ireland, Tuesday, May 27, Kingsholm, Gloucester, kick-off 7.45pm):
15 – Peter Hewat (London Irish)
14 – Sosene Anesi (Chiefs & New Zealand)
13 – Morgan Turinui (Reds & Australia) (capt)
12 – Jaco Pretorius (Stormers & South Africa)
11 – Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester & England)
10 – Stephen Larkham (Australia)
9 – Michael Claassens (Bath & South Africa)
1 – Ollie Le Roux (Leinster & South Africa)
2 – Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France)
3 – Cobus Visagie (Saracens & South Africa)
4 – Kris Chesney (Saracens)
5 – Ross Skeate (Stormers)
6 – Craig Newby (Highlanders & New Zealand)
7 – David Croft (Reds & Australia)
8 – Pedrie Wannenburg (Blue Bulls & South Africa).
Replacements:
16 – Mark Regan (Bristol & England)
17 – Patrice Collazo (Gloucester & France)
18 – Santiago Dellape (Biarritz & Italy)
19 – Mitchell Chapman (Brumbies) or Jerry Collins (Hurricanes & New Zealand)
20 – Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins & England)
21 – Glen Jackson (Saracens)
22 – Tyrone Smith (Brumbies) or Seilala Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa)