Steve Hansen to coach the BaaBaa's against Fiji.

All Blacks boss Steve Hansen will take charge of the Barbarians for their end-of-year clash with Fiji at Twickenham.

Hansen previously coached Wales before joining the backroom staff of the All Blacks, helping them to win the World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.

He then replaced Sir Graham Henry as New Zealand head coach after the tournament, and he has subsequently guided the world champions to 19 wins in 21 Tests.

Their only loss came against England last year at Twickenham, while Australia held them to a draw.
The Barbarians have also confirmed that Springbok duo Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers will play in the match on November 30 which marks the centenary of the Fiji Rugby Union.

Fiji famously recorded a ground-breaking 29-9 win over the Barbarians back in 1970.

Thats the game Fiji get to celebrate their centary year? A meaningless game against a team which a lot if rugby fans think shouldn't even exist anymore. What an anti climax.

An insult to Fiji rugby imo.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Thats the game Fiji get to celebrate their centary year? A meaningless game against a team which a lot if rugby fans think shouldn't even exist anymore. What an anti climax.

An insult to Fiji rugby imo.

Well they're also playing Portugal, Romania and Italy. BTW it's outside the IW so it'll be interesting to see who is released.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Thats the game Fiji get to celebrate their centary year? A meaningless game against a team which a lot if rugby fans think shouldn't even exist anymore. What an anti climax.

An insult to Fiji rugby imo.

Your evidence for this being???

Do you think he'll selected bod if he's available?

Nah Davies will play ahead of him on form.

Anyway unless something's changed dramatically it'll be a pile of Shiite like the last few Baabaas games eg a whole bunch of mercenary SH players looking for a jolly and a decent pay cheque supplemented by the dregs of the T14 and a few token home union players.

I'd love to see guys like North and Balshaw playing for the Lions again. A bit of actual quality for once.

I think the Barbarians concept has to be remodeled. With club releases and test windows clashing with these types of games we need to move away from the selection of the BaaBaa teams being an exercise in looking back on past greats and present stars and forming a dream team of players you'd likely get on a sentimental XV on these boards.

You have to look at the spirit of what the BaaBaas meant in the amateur era and replicating that in the modern era. Selecting players who turn up to training for these matches thinking been here done that won't produce that adventurous spirit. We need to pick players hungry to prove themselves rather than those content to offer glimpses of what they once were. Squads are full of fringe players bursting to get an opportunity to catch the eye. Promoting a game with developmental players may be difficult to do from a marketing point of view but if they put in a performance that makes you sit up and take note because they're motivated to play well rather than just go through the phases and maybe pull off a YouTube moment then I think you'd get more people back on board with the Barbarians concept.

A game against Fiji where a rookie has to think of a way to get noticed for the right reasons against a side that intimidates on attack is a lot more compelling an idea than a team of experienced veterans with no vested interest in putting in a standout performance. Perhaps the error rate is high, perhaps the execution is found wanting but you would never fault their endeavor or motivation. That's what's missing from the Barbarians games I've often seen in recent times.

Probably best to get a combination of both. A sprinkling of marketable big names in a team of rising stars would be a potent combination  

Not even rising stars Notch. Rather players who will be grateful for the opportunity to prove their talents. Instead of a former test star I'd prefer to see players who have fallen out of favour like Hook, Cooper, Vito, Earls, Tait etc who would jump at the chance to show they're not a spent force. Not someone who's been there and done that and doesn't give a flying ruck as to what kind of performance they give. The key for me is finding motivated players. Eager beavers. Not bloated burgers.

Burgers? jOC and Beale heard you mentioning that kia and theyre waiting outside...