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Six Nations statement: Tom Curry 'Tunnelgate' incident
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Barbarians: 7 All Blacks, 3 French, 2 Irish legends to take on Boks
By Josh Raisey
Former Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony will lead the Barbarians in the final match of his career against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.
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The 115-cap flanker will be joined by fellow Irish centurion Cian Healy in the starting XV, who will also be bringing his career to an end after the match.
The pair are not the only Test centurions in the starting line-up, with Sam Cane packing down in the back-row alongside O’Mahony. The Kiwi is one of six All Blacks to start – Shannon Frizell, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Mark Telea – alongside Hoskins Sotutu on the bench.
The team has a French tinge to it as well, with Camille Chat joining Healy in the front-row, and Melvyn Jaminet selected at full-back. The final France international in the squad is replacement loosehead Hassane Kolingar.
The international influence does not end there for Robbie Deans’ side, with Top 14-based England duo David Ribbans of Toulon and Joe Marchant of Stade Francais joining Uruguay’s Santiago Arata and Samoa’s Paul Alo-Emile in providing Test experience.
“This is the first time a South African crowd have got to see the Barbarians face the Springboks on home soil and it’s going to be a great fixture,” said Deans.
“The boys have come in and bonded really well. Those connections will be important against the world champions.”
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Barbarians XV
1. Cian Healy
2. Camille Chat
3. Paul Alo-Emile
4. Ruben van Heerden
5. David Ribbans
6. Peter O’Mahony (Capt)
7. Sam Cane
8. Shannon Frizell
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Josh Jacomb
11. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen
13. Leicester Fainga’anuku
14. Mark Telea
15. Melvyn Jaminet
Replacements
16. Ricky Riccitelli
17. Hassane Kolingar
18. Will Collier
19. Josh Beehre
20. Hoskins Sotutu
21. Santiago Arata
22. Joe Marchant
23. Lachlan Boshier