Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll is one of only two players from the northern hemisphere - the other is the team captain, England's Lawrence Dallaglio - named in the remarkably strong Barbarians team to play South Africa in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Sunday.
O'Driscoll is named in the centre and is the only non-Australian in the three-quarter line. The presence of All Blacks Christian Cullen and Carlos Spencer and Argentinian scrumhalf Agustin Pichot should make for some scintillating play in the backs.
The other Irish squad members in the Barbarians squad, Peter Clohessy, Malcolm O'Kelly and Andy Ward, have to content themselves with places on the bench. The six Wallabies on duty include World Cup heroes Matt Burke, Daniel Herbert, Richard Harry and David Giffin, while the four-strong New Zealand representation is headed by All Black superstar Cullen.
Dallaglio packs down at openside flanker alongside back-row colleagues Jim Williams (Australia) and Ron Cribb (New Zealand). Hooker Naka Drotske will be facing his countrymen. The replacements' bench also includes Welsh outhalf Neil Jenkins and exciting England back Iain Balshaw.
Around 70,000 people are expected to turn out to see South Africa's last match on their short European tour.
Barbarians coach Bob Dwyer has urged the Welsh Rugby Union to close the roof at the venue during the match, claiming it would be "completely insane" not to use the advantage of a closed roof if the recent rain continues.
Meanwhile, Keith Wood is out of Harlequins' clash with Northampton in the English Cup quarter-final tomorrow. The Irish captain will be out of action for the three weeks with severe bruising under the sternum.
In Division One of the AIB League, Shannon have made three changes from the side which defeated Garryowen for tomorrow's long trip to Belfast Harlequins. Hooker Frankie Rocke is injured and he is replaced by Colm Tucker junior, making his first start in the League. Mick Galwey returns to the second row and Brian Buckley switches to the blindside flank to the exclusion of Redmond Collins. Alan Quinlan is rested, so Colm McMahon starts at openside. Marcus Horan has recovered from a hip injury while Peter Stringer's neck problem has eased.
Anthony Foley is making good progress after a clavicle problem but the club decided against risking him for this match. Garryowen, who host Cork Constitution, will definitely be without scrumhalf and captain Tom Tierney (groin injury) and flanker David Wallace (hand).
Injury deprives Blackrock College of the services of Australian-born Leinster full back Nathan Turner, who has a quadricep (leg muscle) strain and will be out for two weeks. Conor Kilroy takes the number 15 jersey, with Paddy Dunne introduced on the left wing.
Gary Halpin returns after a trip to New York, which necessitates Ian McLaughlin switching to loose head.
Number eight Dan McGettigan is also injured and his place goes to John Ryan. Old Crescent make one alteration to the side beaten by Blackrock for the trip to DLSP. Second row Brian Toland is injured and his place goes to St Mary's College old boy Ian Bloomer.
The committee of the IRFU has decided, after a review of the AIB League structure, that the existing straight league of three divisions of 16 teams should continue for the next two seasons, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. The review was instituted in view of the increasing number of representative games at provincial and international level.
A number of other structural issues were raised and will be discussed with the League working party in coming weeks.
Shannon: J Lacey; J O'Neill, N McNamara, J Davis, Jason Hayes; A Thompson (capt), P Stringer; M Horan, C Tucker, John Hayes, M Galwey, J Langford, B Buckley, D Quinlan, C McMahon.
Blackrock college: C Kilroy; P Noble, A Grealey, M Jackson, P Dunne; A McGowan, J Ferris; I McLaughlin, S Byrne, G Halpin, R Casey, L Cullen (capt), T Hogan, J Ryan, R Rogers.
Old Crescent (probable): B Begley; C Doyle, W Munn, M Brody, B Leahy; B Treacy, E Reddan; D Clohessy, M Hayes, J Cullinane, I Bloomer, M Bird, P Glamuzina, D Bowles (capt), G Schoeman.
DLSP: S Stephens; P Costello, S Gormley, D McCabe, M Vioreanu; S Broughton, M Cross; K Ashmore, M Kavanagh, D Masters, K Wheelock, R Frost, A Toher, T Giles (capt), B Wood.
