The World XV backline everyone wants to see
Eddie Jones’ Barbarians squad to face a World XV later this month was announced today, and there are plenty of stars on show.
However, even with the likes of Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi set to start in the back line in the famous black and white jersey, it was always an impossible task to match the potential back line that Steve Hansen’s World XV could field at Twickenham.
The World XV have the opportunity to field a back line of:
9. Nick Phipps
10. Adam Hastings
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Semi Radradra
14. Charles Piutau
15. Israel Folau
That back line is quite simply sensational, and one that the entire world will want to see cooking. In a Barbarians match, where the ball is likely to be spread wide a lot, the possibilities of what these internationals could produce are endless. That is with South African World Cup winner Sbu Nkosi on the bench too.
Then again, the Barbarians’ squad is not too shabby either. Take a look:
BARBARIANS
Forwards:
Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers and England)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby, Wales, British & Irish Lions)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales, British & Irish Lions)
Stephan Lewies (Harlequins and South Africa)
Steven Luatua (Bristol Bears and New Zealand)
Enrique Pieretto (Glasgow Warriors and Argentina)
Carlu Sadie (Cell C Sharks)
Rob Simmons (London Irish and Australia)
Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears)
Sione Vailanu (Glasgow Warriors and Tonga)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons Rugby and Wales)
Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
Tom West (Leicester Tigers)
Hiroki Yamamoto (Toshiba Brave Lupus and Japan)
Backs:
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys and Wales)
Quade Cooper (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners and Australia)
Aaron Cruden (Tokyo Sungoliath and New Zealand)
Francois Hougaard (Saracens and South Africa)
Samu Kerevi (Tokyo Sungoliath and Australia)
Tevita Li (Tokyo Sungoliath)
Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs and England)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons and England)
Seta Tamanivalu (Toshiba Brave Lupus and Fiji)
TBC