Barbarians name squad to face Australia at Twickenham

Colin Slade: Will face Australia again, this time at Twickenham as part of the Barbarians squad

The Barbarians will hand New Zealand fly-half Colin Slade the chance to heap yet more misery on Australia at Twickenham on November 1.

Slade's nerveless last-minute conversion rescued a 29-28 victory for the All Blacks against the Wallabies last weekend.

His reward was to be dropped from the New Zealand squad, with the recalls of Dan Carter and Aaron Cruden making him surplus to requirements.

He is on standby to come into the squad if any other their fly-halves pick up injuries, but he will be given an early chance to impress in the northern hemisphere.

Glasgow lock Al Kellock is another with a big point to prove; overlooked for Vern Cotter's Scotland squad, the 33-year-old has jumped at the chance to join head coach John Kirwan's Barbarians squad.

Australia are likely to head north with Michael Cheika installed as their new head coach, after Ewen McKenzie fell on his sword in the wake of three straight defeats and the Kurtley Beale text message saga.

Former Leinster and Stade Francais coach Cheika will bid to cut through the disarray sparked by Beale's suspension and the resignation of back-room staff member Di Patston, the subject of Beale's alleged incendiary text messages.

Australia face Wales, France, Ireland and England following their tour opener against the Baa-Baas.

Barbarians head coach John Kirwan has completed his squad selection for the two-match run, against Australia and then Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on November 4.

Crusaders fly-half Slade is joined by New Zealand back-rowers Steven Luatua and Matt Todd, with Kiwi lock Dominic Bird also included.

New Zealand World Cup winner Kirwan will have a squad of 27 when the squad meets in London next week, including former England prop Matt Stevens, now playing in South Africa for the Sharks, and Nick Cummins.

South Africa front-rower CJ Van der Linde has been forced to withdraw through injury.

Barbarians squad:

Backs: T Nanai Williams (Chiefs), J Tuculet (Grenoble, Argentina), P Osborne (Highlanders), F Halai (Blues, New Zealand), J de Jongh (Stormers, South Africa), N Cummins (Coca Cola West Red Sparks, Australia), F Saili (Blues, New Zealand), C Slade (Crusaders, New Zealand), M Boshoff (Golden Lions, South Africa), T Cubelli (Belgrano, Argentina), S Pretorius (Cheetahs), F Tanaka (Highlanders, Japan).

Forwards: C Oosthuizen (Cheetahs, South Africa), M Stevens (Sharks, England), T Du Toit (Sharks), A Ta'avao (Blues), J Parsons (Blues), M Schwalger (Chiefs, Samoa), M Rhodes (Stormers), M Alemanno (La Tablada, Argentina), D Bird (Canterbury, New Zealand), A Kellock (Glasgow, Scotland), A Thomson (Canon Eagles, New Zealand), M Todd (Crusaders, New Zealand), S Luatua (Blues, New Zealand), H Brussow (Cheetahs, South Africa), J Botes (Sharks).