Star-studded Barbarians to take on Argentina

The Barbarians will celebrate their 125th Anniversary with coach Michael Cheika naming one of the strongest teams in history that will take on the Pumas at Twickenham on Saturday. The team boasts some of the best Southern Hemisphere players including New Zealand’s Nehe Milner-Skudder, Australia’s Tevita Kuridrani and Fiji’s Nemani Nadolo to name a few in the back-line. The forwards consist of Australia’s Stephen Moore and Scott Fardy, South Africa’s Victor Matfield and Lood de Jager and Charlie Faumuina will be representing New Zealand alongside Hurricanes flanker Ardie Savea.

Argentina’s head coach Daniel Hourcade has made seven changes to the side that lost to South Africa in the Bronze final at the World Cup but the team that remains is quite strong. Agustin Creevy captains the side, half-backs Martin Landajo and Nicolas Sanchez, and ‘The Magician’ Juan Martin Hernandez are all involved, as is wing Santiago Cordero.

The fixture will be the first time the two teams have met in almost exactly 25 years, with the last contest a 34-22 win for the Barbarians in November 1990.

Barbarians:
15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes & New Zealand)
14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders & New Zealand)
13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies & Australia)
12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders & New Zealand)
11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders & Fiji)
10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders & New Zealand)
9 Tawera Kerr Barlow (Chiefs & New Zealand)
1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies & Australia)
3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues & New Zealand)
4 Lood de Jager (Cheetahs & South Africa)
5 Victor Matfield (Northampton Saints & South Africa, captain)
6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies & Australia)
7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
8 Stephen Hoiles (Waratahs & Australia)

Replacements:
James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels & Australia)
Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs & New Zealand),
Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels & Australia)
Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
Jarrad Butler (Brumbies)
Cobus Reinach (Sharks & South Africa)
Pat Lambie (Sharks & South Africa)
Francois Venter (Cheetahs)
Joe Tomane (Brumbies & Australia)

Argentina:
15 Ramiro Moyano
14 Matías Moroni
13 Jerónimo De la Fuente
12 Santiago González Iglesias
11 Santiago Cordero
10 Nicolás Sánchez
9 Martín Landajo (c)
1 Lucas Noguera
2 Julián Montoya
3 Ramiro Herrera
4 Guido Petti
5 Matías Alemanno
6 Pablo Matera
7 Javier Ortega Desio
8 Facundo Isa

Replacements:
16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez
17 Santiago García Botta
18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
19 Tomas Lezana
20 Leonardo Senatore
21 Felipe Ezcurra
22 Gabriel Ascarate
23 Emiliano Boffelli

The Barbarians played against Gloucester on Tuesday in preparation demolishing a young side 62-14 at Kingsholm.