All Blacks star added to Barbarians squad for New Zealand clash - Ruck

All Blacks star added to Barbarians squad for New Zealand clash

The Barbarians have announced that All Black wing Julian Savea will face his countrymen when the sides clash at Twickenham on November 4.

Savea, who was on Sunday left out of New Zealand’s 37-man touring squad, joins the invitational side and will hope to impress in the game.


LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Andy Ellis of Barbarians scores their second try during the Killik Cup match between Barbarians and South Africa at Wembley Stadium on November 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images for Barbarians)

Meanwhile, last year’s unbeaten Barbarians captain Andy Ellis returns for the famous invitation side for next month’s matches against New Zealand and Tonga – along with some of Super Rugby’s most talented operators.

The scrum-half – a World Cup winner in 2011 – led the 2016 squad to a 31-31 draw against South Africa at Wembley before wins over the Czech Republic (71-0) and Fiji (40-7).

Also called up are the Crusaders’ Super Rugby-winning playmakers Mitchell Drummond and Richie Mo’unga, Chiefs prop Atu Moli and lock Dominic Bird, and Highlanders flanker Dillon Hunt.
The Barbarians will make further announcements in the run-up to the squad’s assembly in London next Monday.
There is a unmistakeable Crusaders flavour to this first group of Barbarian recruits.
Ellis and Bird are former players, Head Coach Robbie Deans was Super Rugby’s most successful boss in his spell with the Canterbury franchise, and current Crusaders chief Scott Robertson is Deans’s assistant on the two-match trip.
Drummond, Mo’unga, Moli, Bird and Hunt – part of the Highlanders side that beat the Lions this summer – will join up with the full New Zealand squad on the France leg of the All Blacks’ European tour.