Barbarians v South Africa (Sat)

Barbarians v South Africa
Date: Saturday, 1 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Venue: Twickenham

England great Jason Robinson will play his final game on the world stage on Saturday after being named in the Barbarians team to play South Africa.

It will be the 33-year-old's final appearance at Twickenham and his penultimate appearance as a player before his testimonial in June.

Bristol and England hooker Mark Regan has defied his club by insisting on captaining the Baa-Baas.

South Africa have named six of their starting XV from the World Cup final.

Jacques Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, CJ van der Linde, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith are all included, but the Springboks are without Victor Matfield, John Smit, Percy Montgomery and Fourie du Preez.

The match will be coach Jake White's final game in charge of the Springboks, and the World Cup winner has made three changes to the side that beat Wales.

Bismarck du Plessis comes in at hooker for Smit, veteran lock Johan Ackermann replaces the injured Bakkies Botha and Akona Ndungane replaces JP Pietersen on the wing.

Robinson will get the chance to bow out in style at the Twickenham stadium he graced on so many occasions after recovering from the dislocated shoulder which brought his World Cup final to a premature end.

"Jason has made a remarkable recovery," said Barbarians coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

"He has worked incredibly hard to be fit for this game. He's wanted to play for the Barbarians for a long period of time and he was determined to make himself available.

"Jason's never played for the Barbarians before and he has worked tirelessly.

"He's a shining example for any professional athlete, he set himself the goal of playing in this match and he's raring to go. His ability to beat players one-on-one is the epitome of what Barbarians rugby is about."

Robinson is part of a star-studded Barbarians backline which also includes All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko and Australia's Matt Giteau, who will line up at fly-half.

Former England and Northampton winger Ben Cohen, currently without a club following the collapse of his move to Leicester, is named on the bench.

Despite all the star names on show, it is Regan's involvement which has drawn the headlines in the build-up to the match.

Premier Rugby, the umbrella organisation for the English top flight clubs, said that no Guinness Premiership player would be allowed to play for the Baa-Baas because the match is not during a recognised international window and is on the same weekend as the EDF Energy Cup.

Bristol have warned Regan that he will be in breach of contract if he leads the team out on Saturday, but the 35-year-old has decided to risk disciplinary action by going ahead.

"I was asked to captain the Barbarians and it's a massive honour to do that," he said in a prepared statement.

"It's going to be a big day, leading out a star-studded side at Twickenham, my children are mascots so it will be an enjoyable day for them and the whole family."

Regan's England team-mate Andrew Sheridan was also named in the Barbarians' squad but his club side Sale demanded that he withdrew.

Sheridan agreed to pull out of the fixture, but has subsequently been rested for Sale's EDF Energy trip to Leicester on Friday.

Prop Salesi Ma'afu will maintain the Barbarians tradition of having an uncapped player in their starting line-up, but he will be surrounded by experienced players like Wales' Martyn Williams and New Zealand's Jerry Collins.

Barbarians: Jason Robinson (England), Joe Rokocoko (Blues & New Zealand), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes & New Zealand), Ma'a Nonu (Hurricanes & New Zealand), Isoa Neivua (Warriors & Fiji), Matt Giteau (Western Force & Australia), Justin Marshall (Ospreys & New Zealand), Federico Pucciarello (Munster & Italy), Mark Regan (captain, Bristol & England), Salesi Ma'afu (Brumbies), Brent Cockbain (Wales), Justin Harrison (Ulster & Australia), Rocky Elsom (Waratahs & Australia), Martyn Williams (Cardiff & Wales), Jerry Collins (Hurricanes & New Zealand)
Replacements: Schalk Brits (Stormers), JD Moller (Stormers), Troy Flavell (Blues & New Zealand), Michael Owen (Dragons & Wales), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff & Wales), Peter Grant (Stormers), Ben Cohen (England)

South Africa: Ruan Pienaar; Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Andre Pretorius, Enrico Januarie; CJ Van der Linde, Bismarck Du Plessis, Jannie Du Plessis, Johann Muller (captain), Johan Ackermann, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Ryan Kankowski
Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Heinke Van Der Merwe, Albert Van Den Berg, Barend Pieterse, Wynand Olivier, Wayne Julies, Conrad Jantjes

Source: BBC Sport