Australia v Barbarians: Leinster's outgoing Australians Chris Whitaker and Rocky Elsom will start for the Barbarians against the Wallabies this weekend. The pair are joined in the side by Leicester fullback Geordan Murphy and Ulster prop BJ Botha.
The match at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday will mark the final appearances before retirement of Martin Corry and Josh Lewsey.
Tour captain Corry, who led the side to victory against his former England team-mates at Twickenham last Sunday, has been named among the replacements.
On the wings, the Barbarians will field two players from England’s 2003 World Cup-winning side in Lewsey and Iain Balshaw.
Australia Test flanker Phil Waugh will lead a star-studded team featuring controversial rugby league convert Sonny Bill Williams.
Waugh, who along with Elsom will join the Australia squad for their domestic Test campaign following the Baa Baas clash, will skipper the side. Waugh, a veteran of 77 Test appearances for his country, insisted he would not take the responsibility of leading the Baa Baas into battle lightly.
“It’s a huge honour, it’s obviously a very good team and it’s a bit occasion so to be named captain is a huge honour and a huge responsibility as well,” he said. “It’s a unique experience, the Wallabies versus the Barbarians, and I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
The clash will feature several mouth-watering battles all over the park with Williams lining up against Australia captain Stirling Mortlock at outside centre, while Waugh will resume his battle with long-time team-mate and rival George Smith.
Elsom’s naming at number eight and the decision to start Jerry Collins at blindside flanker sets up an intriguing duel with in-form Force enforcer Richard Brown and diminutive debutant Matt Hodgson, who will occupy Elsom’s familiar number six shirt for the Wallabies.
The experienced Whitaker will lock horns with Luke Burgess, who is entering only his second season at international level.
The battle of the outhalves could also prove a forerunner to this season’s Bledisloe Cup battle with Luke McAlister to face off against Matt Giteau.
McAlister, who has been playing club rugby for Sale, will return to New Zealand after the match to resume his All Blacks career.
Barbarians: G Murphy (Leicester & Ireland); I Balshaw (Gloucester & England), S Williams (Toulon), S Mapusua (London Irish & Samoa), J Lewsey (Wasps & England); L McAlister (Sale & New Zealand), C Whitaker (Leinster & Australia); C Dermody (London Irish & New Zealand), S Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), BJ Botha (Ulster & South Africa), C Jack (Saracens & New Zealand), P Tito (Cardiff Blues), J Collins (Toulon & New Zealand), P Waugh (Waratahs & Australia, captain), R Elsom (Leinster & Australia).
Replacements: S Brits (Stormers & South Africa), G Somerville (Gloucester & New Zealand), M Corry (Leicester & England), S Betsen (Wasps & France), J Marshall (Saracens & New Zealand), G Jackson (Saracens), B Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand).
