Barclay back in action ahead of autumn Tests

Scotland captain John Barclay will return to action for his club Scarlets against Benetton in Llanelli tonight, just over a week before the first autumn Test against Samoa.

Barclay is in line to continue deputising for the injured Greig Laidlaw and will make his first appearance for Scarlets since suffering a concussion against Edinburgh at the end of September.

Former Glasgow back- rower Barclay, 31, has been cap - taining Scotland since Laidlaw suffered a separate ankle injury against France in the Six Nations. Following the sc rum-half’ s call-up to the Lions it was Barclay who led the S cots on their summer tour.

Meanwhile. New Zealand international Julian Save a will play against the All Blacks when he features in Barbarians colours at Twickenham on Saturday.

The powerful wing, who has scored 46 tries in 54 Tests, is a member of a Barbarians side that also includes his fellow All Blacks Andy Ellis, Dominic Bird, Steven Luatua and Luke Whitelock.

Save a’s younger brother Ardie line up for New Zealand in the Killik Cup clash.

Sc rum-half Ellis, a World Cup winner six years ago, captains the Barbarians, with former South Africa skipper Adriaan Strauss heading up a Baa- baas pack that contains five capped players.

“It’ s going to best range coming up against Ardie,” Julian S avea said. “He beat me to playing with the Barbarians, too, so this will be cool.

“I am not expecting any sort of leniency. I’m just going to step him, go round that way!”

The Barbarians will face New Zealand for an 11th time. They b eat the All Blacks at Twickenham in 2009.