Nacewa And Howlett Named In Barbarians Team
Two Ireland-based players – Leinster full-back Isa Nacewa and Munster winger Doug Howlett – have been included in the Barbarians team to play Wales in Saturday’s match at the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 2.30pm).
Coached by Cardiff Blues boss David Young, this is the Barbarians’ second outing of their two-match summer tour of Britain.
The Baa Baas recovered from a 24-7 deficit to beat England 38-32 in their opener at Twickenham last Sunday. Edinburgh’s ‘flying Dutchman’ Tim Visser pounced in the dying moments for the match-winning try.
Isa Nacewa and Doug Howlett, who are Auckland-born and bred and former Blues team-mates, have been selected to start for the world famous touring side in Cardiff.
Nacewa will be making his second appearance for the Barbarians, following a second half runout against England at Twickenham in May 2006.
Howlett, who remains New Zealand’s record try scorer, donned his Munster socks when making his Baa Baas debut at the London venue two years ago in a 33-26 victory over England.
Having just helped Munster to Magners League glory, Howlett said: “It’s going to be a cracking game. It will be great going back to Cardiff but the Welsh lads will certainly be up for it.
“It’s a real privilege to get invited to play for the Barbarians and a huge thrill to be playing with the calibre of guys in the squad at such a great ground as the Millennium Stadium.
“I played for the Baa Baas a couple of years ago when we beat England and I have fond memories of that team and again they have put together a class squad of players together for this year.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game which will be refereed by Ireland’s Alain Rolland, are priced at £40 and £30 for adults. It is £100 for a family ticket (two adults and two children) and £15 for admission to the under-18s enclosure.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.wru.co.uk/tickets or by calling the ticket hotline 08442 777 888.
BARBARIANS (v Wales): Isa Nacewa (Leinster/Fiji); Paul Sackey (Toulon/England), Seru Rabeni (La Rochelle/Fiji), Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Francais/France), Doug Howlett (Munster/New Zealand); Brock James (Clermont Auvergne), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres Olympique/France); Iestyn Thomas (Scarlets/Wales), Sebastien Bruno (Toulon/France), Carl Hayman (Toulon/New Zealand), Iosefa Tekori (Castres Olympique/Samoa), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Joe van Niekerk (Toulon/South Africa), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/Italy) (capt).
Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso/Italy), Davit Kubriashvili (Toulon/Georgia), Erik Lund (Biarritz Olympique/Norway), George Smith (Toulon/Australia), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Willie Mason (Toulon), Benoit Baby (Clermont Auvergne).