Barbarians

Barbarians turn to South Africa for November games

ESPN Staff

Matt Stevens will play for the Barbarians against the Wallabies © Getty Images Enlarge

The Barbarians will have a South African flavour for their matches against the Wallabies and Leicester Tigers in early November.

Barbarians coach Sir John Kirwan has called up former England prop Matt Stevens for the games and he is joined by Eastern Province Kings' CJ Van der Linde and Cheetahs' Coenie Oosthuizen and Heinrich Brussow. He has also called upon the services of Sharks flanker Thomas du Toit, Stormers' Michael Rhodes and back-row Jacques Botes.

Stevens said: "I've always wanted to play for the Barbarians - it's one of the brilliant traditions of the game. It's all about how you play and that's very good for the game.

"I'm back at Twickenham as well so there will definitely be a bit of nostalgia for me and it is a fantastic place. The last time I played there was in the Aviva Premiership final and it was a nice way to finish even though it was tough to have lost my last game on English soil."

He continued: "Thomas du Toit is a behemoth. At 19 he's a formidable talent, a hugely committed prop, a real athlete and a good powerful scrummager.

"Jacques Botes is just an inspiration. He's played for so many years that he's Mr Sharks and such a humble guy. CJ Van der Linde is obviously hugely experienced. He's a big man but he's quick and he's been showing off some silky skills in the Currie Cup."

The seven players will line-up alongside Nick Cummins who was the first player to be added to the Baabaas' roster ahead of the games.

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