Match thread

OomPB

John Dobson from the Stormers will coach the Barbarians. Saw Andre Venter's son has been pulled, hope to see more high flying Stormers players in the squad.

sparky

@OomPB According to the Barbarians website their coaches for the ABs XV games are John Dobson and Pat Lam, but I can't see a list of players.

OomPB

Lots of Saffers in the Barbarians team.. Hanro Liebenberg captain and also includes. Bristo Benhard van Rensburg andMattias Moroni. Bongi Mbonambi pack with Oli Kebble Asenathi Ntlabakanye,Evan Roos nr8, Ruben van Heerden, Ernst van Rhyn locks, Cobus Wiese on the bench with Bathobele Hlekani , Robert du Preez nr10, Werner Kok on the wing, Rhyno Smith, André Hugo Venter and Dan du Plessis on the bench.

Mr Fish

@OomPB said in All Blacks XV 2025:

Lots of Saffers in the Barbarians team.. Hanro Liebenberg captain and also includes. Bristo Benhard van Rensburg andMattias Moroni. Bongi Mbonambi pack with Oli Kebble Asenathi Ntlabakanye,Evan Roos nr8, Ruben van Heerden, Ernst van Rhyn locks, Cobus Wiese on the bench with Bathobele Hlekani , Robert du Preez nr10, Werner Kok on the wing, Rhyno Smith, André Hugo Venter and Dan du Plessis on the bench.

Oof not the most exciting of Barbarians squads.

OomPB

@Mr-Fish will be much stronger then the has beens scrap playing against the Springboks in South Africa.

sparky

A photo of the Barbarians at training. A list of their squad has not been released. Bongi is the only one I recognise.

Mr Fish

@OomPB said in All Blacks XV 2025:

@Mr-Fish will be much stronger then the has beens scrap playing against the Springboks in South Africa.

Yes probably a better and more cohesive team, but still more interesting seeing a bunch of recent internationals come together to attempt to play Barbarians rugby.

OomPB

@Mr-Fish All of the Saffers would want to impress and push for the Springbok jersey. Thats something different then a bunch of big name has beens playing for a jol.

Dobson respect rugby values and his Stormers are still unbeaten in the URC. Never underestimate him.

Mr Fish

@OomPB said in All Blacks XV 2025:

@Mr-Fish All of the Saffers would want to impress and push for the Springbok jersey. Thats something different then a bunch of big name has beens playing for a jol.

Dobson respect rugby values and his Stormers are still unbeaten in the URC. Never underestimate him.

I definitely think it'll make for a stronger team than throwing together some former internationals from across the world, but I think most people watch the Barbarians to see those former stars. Plus, South Africa are already playing a game in London on Saturday.

I'd much rather watch a bunch of (ex)internationals I know, out there having fun and throwing the ball around than a team of possibly very good players but I have no idea who they are.

Bones

But South Africa very very good.

OomPB

BARBARIANS – 15 Max Mallins, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Fitz Harding, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.
Bench: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Brad Webber, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Rhyno Smith.

@OomPB

This game suddenly got more interesting.
Looks like a serious game now.
More interesting than the Japan game for sure.

OomPB

@mohikamo Dobson's background at UCT and the Stormers are build on running rugby, the way the Barbarians play.

Tim

NZ team out tomorrow or Friday?

Wurzel

What an uninspiring Baabaas team.

Would be better to call them South Africa XV and have the match as an A International

Bones

@Wurzel said in All Blacks XV 2025:

What an uninspiring Baabaas team.

Would be better to call them South Africa XV and have the match as an A International

Yeah I usually like to catch baabaa matches, can't say I'd be tuning if it wasn't NZ.

And who the hell is Brad Webber?

sparky

@OomPB said in All Blacks XV 2025:

BARBARIANS – 15 Max Mallins, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Rob du Preez, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Fitz Harding, 6 Hanro Liebenberg (c), 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oli Kebble.
Bench: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Brad Webber, 22 Dan du Plessis, 23 Rhyno Smith.

Real South Africa and Rugby 360 vibe to that team. Tasty!

sparky

Loads of Bristol Bears players too.

Is this not being aired on any NZ platform?

@Canes4life Wow thats pretty surprising and dissapointing

Bovidae

@Number-10

Have you got the media info for the AB XV team announcement?

Torian

@Canes4life said in Barbarians v All Blacks XV:

@DurryMexted said in All Blacks XV 2025:

Is this not being aired on any NZ platform?

Nope, Sky Sport haven't picked it up.

Had a brief phone call with sky before the fella I was talking to said they had been inundated with requests about it and it will be now airing at 2am Sunday

Nepia

@Grooter said in Barbarians v All Blacks XV:

@Canes4life said in Barbarians v All Blacks XV:

@DurryMexted said in All Blacks XV 2025:

Is this not being aired on any NZ platform?

Nope, Sky Sport haven't picked it up.

Had a brief phone call with sky before the fella I was talking to said they had been inundated with requests about it and it will be now airing at 2am Sunday

Sky seems to be running a model where they don't televise something unless their customers directly contact them about it. The same thing happened with the league Ashes, they weren't televising it, were getting queries about it, then NRL stepped in and broadcast it, then Sky got the rights (and I think the free NRL option disappeared).

Bovidae

A lot of times it will be about who has the local broadcasting rights, and how easy is it to get for NZ. Sky have shown games with much less interest for Kiwis.

Daffy Jaffy

@Canes4life said in Barbarians v All Blacks XV:

Nope, Sky Sport haven't picked it up.

Sky appear to have it now - from their channel guide -
All Blacks XV v Barbarians (G)
Sunday 2 November | 2:05 AM - 4:15 AM | Channel 52

sparky

This version of the team has little flags next to the players' names to show clearly how many Saffas are playing this weekend for the Boerbarians.

Bones

Brad Webber is not an ex All Black.

sparky

@Bones Brad Webber, Kieron Reed, Conrad Smyth and Greg Summerville all had to watch on with frustration as other players were awarded All Blacks caps ahead of them.

These days they have set up business together and all four are available as "All Blacks impersonators" for business and social functions in London and the Home Counties.

Daffy Jaffy

All Blacks XV match-day 23:

  1. Xavier Numia

  2. Jack Taylor

  3. George Dyer

  4. Josh Beehre

  5. Caleb Delany

  6. Kaylum Boshier

  7. Dalton Papali’i

  8. Devan Flanders

  9. Xavier Roe

  10. Josh Jacomb

  11. Etene Nanai-Seturo

  12. David Havilli

  13. Daniel Rona

  14. Caleb Tangitau

  15. Jacob Ratumatavuki-Kneepkens

  16. Bradley Slater

  17. Josh Fusitua

  18. Siale Lauaki

  19. Jamie Hannah

  20. Sean Withy

  21. Kyle Preston

  22. Rivez Reihana

  23. Braydon Ennor

Sky have it now - from their channel guide -
All Blacks XV v Barbarians (G)
Sunday 2 November | 2:05 AM - 4:15 AM | Channel 52

jimmyb

There better be an absolutely outstanding reason CLW is not starting

Bones

Yeah I could kinda be happy with that... but Boshier?

sparky

I guess the All Blacks XV are going to run it from everywhere while the Boerbarians go from driving mauls.

Daffy Jaffy

@jimmyb He is not there -
Caleb Delaney and Jamie Hannah were called up as injury replacements for Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Isaiah Walker Leawere

jimmyb

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Barbarians v All Blacks XV:

@jimmyb He is not there -
Caleb Delaney and Jamie Hannah were called up as injury replacements for Naitoa Ah Kuoi and Isaiah Walker Leawere

He’s in the original squad. Just double checked

jimmyb

@sparky said in Barbarians v All Blacks XV:

I guess the All Blacks XV are going to run it from everywhere while the Boerbarians go from driving mauls.

This will be a lot of players first taste against super rugby quality South Africans. It will be very interesting to see how it goes. It’s a big match, a bigger match than some think imo