Rugby World Cup stars to line up for Baabaas

Stars from the New Zealand and Australia World Cup final teams will join forces later this month when they join the Barbarians to take on Gloucester and Argentina.

All Black winger Nehe Milner-Skudder and Wallabies midfielder Tevita Kuridrani have been added to the Barbarians squad.

Milner-Skudder scored the All Blacks’ opening try scorer in the 34-17 win against the Wallabies and also picked up he World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year on Sunday.

No-one made more clean breaks (15) or metres (561) in the tournament than the Hurricanes wing.

“It felt pretty amazing and to come along and accept this award is pretty humbling,” he said after picking up the prize alongside the likes of Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. “I admire a lot of these guys. I used to watch them on TV and to be around them in the same team is a privilege and a massive honour.”

Milner-Skudder will be joined by Tewira Kerr-Barlow and Charlie Faumuina, as well as fellow wing Waisake Naholo, when the world famous invitation club returns to action at Kingsholm on November 17 (19:30) before taking on World Cup semi finalists Argentina in the Killik Cup match at Twickenham Stadium on November 21 (15:05).

Tevita Kuridrani – the scorer of Australia’s second final try – has been added to the squad and joins Wallabies captain Stephen Moore and flanker Scott Fardy in a 24-man group.

The Barbarians, who celebrate their 125th anniversary this year, have confirmed their full squad with a combined total of 682 international caps and representatives from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Fiji.

It contains of the world’s great second row partnerships in South Africa’s Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha who are backed up by rising star Lood de Jager.

And head coach Michael Cheika will have formidable firepower at his disposal with the likes of Fiji’s World Cup star Nemani Nadolo lining up with South Africa’s Pat Lambie and Australia’s Joe Tomane.

There is world class front row potential with Moore and Faumuina alongside South Africa’s Tendai Mtawarira, while flanker Fardy was one of Australia’s most consistent World Cup performers.

There are two uncapped players in the squad: Cheetahs’ centre Francois Venter and Hurricanes flanker Ardie Savea.

Barbarians squad

Backs

Ryan Crotty (Crusaders and New Zealand)
Tawera Kerr Barlow (Chiefs and New Zealand)
Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies and Australia)
Pat Lambie (Sharks and South Africa)
Nehe Milner Skudder (Hurricanes and New Zealand)
Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders and Fiji)
Waisake Naholo (Highlanders and New Zealand)
Cobus Reinach (Sharks and South Africa)
Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders and New Zealand)
Joe Tomane (Brumbies and Australia)
Francois Venter (Cheetahs)

Forwards

Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
Scott Fardy (Brumbies and Australia)
Charlie Faumuina (Blues and New Zealand)
James Hanson (Reds and Australia)
Stephen Hoiles (Waratahs and Australia)
Lood de Jager (Cheetahs and South Africa)
Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs and New Zealand)
Victor Matfield (Northampton Saints and South Africa)
Stephen Moore (Brumbies and Australia)
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks and South Africa)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes)
Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels and Australia)
Warren Whitely (Lions and South Africa)