Lions add to BaaBaas’ fire

Three Lions Super Rugby stars and a former Springbok captain will attempt to stoke the Barbarians’ fire against the All Blacks at Twickenham today (5pm).

Ten players of Kiwi origin have been included in the BaaBaas starting line-up, with the addition of a strong SA flavour in centre Harold Vorster, flank Kwagga Smith (above), prop Jacques van Rooyen and Bulls hooker Adriaan Strauss – who retired as Bok captain last year – and Aussie Sam Carter.

On the bench there’s also prop Ruan Smith, flank Ruan Ackermann and Willie Britz, hooker Akker van der Merwe and star flyhalf Robert du Preez.

Du Preez will hope to show why he was unlucky not to have made the Bok squad after guiding Province to the Currie Cup title last week before joining the rest of the Du Preez clan in Durban.

Focus is on BaaBaas left-wing Julian Savea who has a point to prove after being discarded by All Black coach Steve Hansen despite scoring 46 tries in 54 Tests.

Hansen has mixed and matched his combinations with the team captained by flyhalf Beauden Barrett, while there are three new caps on the bench in prop Tim Perry, hooker Asafo Aumua and centre Matt Duffie.

There are also loose forwards Vaea Fifita, Waisake Naholo and Ngani Laumape who could turn it into a long afternoon for the invitational BaaBaas outfit.