Near-full Australian starting XV confirmed for Barbarians' clash with Northampton

Sat, Sep 2, 2023, 6:32 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will lead the Barbarians in their opening tour match against Northampton. Photo: Getty Images
Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will lead the Barbarians in their opening tour match against Northampton. Photo: Getty Images

Brumbies scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan will lead the Barbarians in their opening tour match against Northampton on September 3 (AEST time).

The Saints play in the green and gold strips but the colour scheme is more fitting for the Barbarians, who will run out a near identical team that played for Australia A against Portugal last week.

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13 out of the starting XV are Australian, with Lonergan joined by James O'Connor in the halves.

Hunter Paisami and Filipo Daugunu form an all-Reds centre partnership, with the back three of Dylan Pietsch, Lachlan Anderson and Tom Wright completing the backline

Rebels prop Sam Talakai will serve as vice captain, joined in the front-row by Lachlan Lonergan and Tom Lambert.

Japanese duo Uwe Helu and Faulua Makisi are the lone non-Australians in the starting side.

Helu comes in for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, a late withdrawal from the squad named at the start of the week.

The 16-Test international partners Cadeyrn Neville in the second-row as Makisi slots in at number eight, with Lachie Swinton and Seru Uru the two flankers.

Reds standout Harry Wilson headlines the bench, joined by Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes.

Wilson will come up against a familiar face, with former club teammate Angus Scott-Young named for the Saints.

Japanese trio Taichi Takahashi, Kaito Shigeno and Ryohey Yamanaka round out the international experience in the reserves.

Barbarians side to face Northampton

15 Tom Wright

14 Lachlan Anderson

13 Filipo Daugunu

12 Hunter Paisami

11 Dylan Pietsch

10 James O’Connor

9 Ryan Lonergan (c)

1 Tom Lambert

2 Lachlan Lonergan

3 Sam Talakai (vc)

4 Uwe Helu

5 Caderyn Neville

6 Lachlan Swinton

7 Seru Uru

8 Faulua Makisi

Replacements:

16 Shunta Nakamura

17 Kenta Kobayashi

18 Harry Johnson-Holmes

19 Taichi Takahashi

20 Harry Wilson

21 Kaito Shigeno

22 Nicholas McCurran

23 Ryohey Yamanaka

SAINTS SIDE TO FACE BARBARIAN F.C. 15 George Hendy, 14 Will Glister, 13 Tom Seabrook, 12 Tom Litchfield, 11 Jake Garside, 10 James Grayson, 9 Callum Braley; 1 Alex Waller, 2 Tom Cruse (c), 3 Paul Hill, 4 Theo Vukasinovic*, 5 Geordie Irvine, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Henry Pollock, 8 Izaiha Moore-Aiono*

Replacements: Aston Gradwick-Light, Craig Wright, Elliot Millar Mills, Callum Smyth*, Ed Prowse, Kayde Sylvester, Reuben Logan, James Cherry*, Henri Lavin*, Archie McParland, Matthew Arden, Toby Thame, Oscar Daniel*, Ewan Baker

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