Robertson names star-studded BaaBaas to take on the Boks in The Bay

Former All Black scrumhalf TJ Perenara will captain a star-studded Barbarian FC side to take on the Springboks in the YesPlay Cup on Saturday, with kick-off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium scheduled for 3pm, when two former Junior Boks from Outeniqua High School in George, Duhan van der Merwe and Warrick Gelant, will reunite in the back-three.

The 89-cap All Black is one of 19 internationals from 11 different nations coming together for the Gqeberha clash against the Boks. The curtain-raiser, which kicks off at noon, is between the SA ‘A’ team and Zimbabwe.

Having represented the famous invitational club against Fiji in 2013, Perenara partners Toulon and Argentina ace Tomas Albornoz at half-back, while Munster’s Alex Nankivell partners France international Virimi Vakatawa in the midfield.

Van der Merwe, who has gone on to carve out a solid career with Scotland and the British & Irish Lions, is at wing and will run out with Gelant, a Rugby World Cup winner with the Springboks in 2019, at fullback, while Wallabies wing Andrew Kellaway completes the back three.

There is plenty of size, power and experience in the pack with Gloucester’s Argentinian Mayco Vivas, Dragons RFC and Wales hooker Elliot Dee and Edinburgh and Scotland tight-head D’Arcy Rae forming the front-row.

Wester Force and Los Pumas lock Franco Molina partners Bayonne’s Alex Moon in a towering second-row.

Harlequins and Argentina stalwart Guido Petti and Panasonic Wild Knights’ Lachlan Boshier are named on the flanks with Samoa sensation Miracle Fai’ilagi pulling on the No 8 jersey.

Barbarian FC head coach Scott Robertson said: “We are all really excited for Saturday afternoon. To play against the world champions in South Africa is an awesome opportunity.

“We have embraced the Barbarians spirit and tradition this week, coming together as a group and enjoying each other’s company in Cape Town.

“It’s a team packed with talent, guys who have come from all over the world and have a great chance to showcase their ability in Port Elizabeth. We want to express ourselves and do the famous black and white jersey proud.”

There is a strong South American flavour to the replacements bench with Los Pumas Lionel Oviedo and Pedro Delgado named alongside Uraguay’s Santiago Arata.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Edwill van der Merwe; 10 Quan Horn, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt); 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Riley Norton; 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Vusi Moyo.

Barbarian FC starting XV: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 TJ Perenara (capt); 8 Miracle Fai’ilagi, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Guido Petti; 5 Alex Moon, 4 Franco Molina; 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Mayko Vivas. Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Pedro Delgado, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Liam McConnell, 21 Santiago Arata, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.