WORLD CLASS TEAM TURNS OUT FOR ROB HOWLEY
That’s the claim of the man who has assembled the side, Howley himself, and fans are being promised a feast of attacking rugby. While Scott Quinnell is set to name his Britain & Ireland XV tomorrow (Wednesday), Howley has set the tone for a rugby spectacular by picking six former Test captains, 12 current Zurich Premiership or Celtic League players and a total of 594 caps.
“I’ve had a brilliant response from the players and I only wish I was able to play in a team of this quality,” said Howley. “When you look at the talent in the side and the strength of the combinations I think I’ve got a side that is strong enough to take on and beat most international sides.
“Everyone saw what Bruce Reihana is capable of at Twickenham last weekend when he starred for the Barbarians in their big win over England, while the combination of the two Tongans, Tevita Vaikona and Salesi Finau, in the centre is bound to cause damage.
“Joost van der Westhuizen has come out of retirement to lead the side and it is an opportunity not to be missed to see one of the game’s all-time great scrum halves play in Wales one last time.
“I had a number of great battles with Joost down the years and he is a master craftsman of the No 9 trade. Seeing him is worth the admission price alone.”
Ospreys wing Steffan Terblanche will be joined on the wing by fellow Springbok, Andre Snyman, currently playing under Phil Davies at Leeds Tykes, while the man Stephen Jones has taken over from at No 10 in Clermont Auvergne, Gerald Merceron, figures at outside half. While Howley’s star-studded back division can boast 207 rugby union caps, the forwards can lay claim to a massive 387.
“I really wouldn’t mind playing behind a pack as big, fierce and experienced as this one,” admitted Howley. “Craig Dowd has been immense for my old club London Wasps since quitting New Zealand and we all know what those French war horses Raphael Ibanez and Christian Califano are capable of.
“The second row pair of Luke Gross and Simon Raiwalui are old favourites in Wales, having played for Llanelli and Newport, while Bobby Skinstad is also returning to Wales to partner Corne Krige and Jim Williams in the back row.
“It really is a world class team to play on a world class stage. I only hope that Scott’s team can keep up with us!”
And just in case Rob’s starting line-up has any problems, he has a further seven top class players on the bench with 127 caps between them. If facing Vaikona and Finau wasn’t bad enough, Rob will have Trevor Leota and Epi Taione to release later on.
REST OF THE WORLD XV
Bruce Reihana (Northampton Saints/New Zealand – 2 caps)
Steffan Terblanche (Ospreys/South Africa – 37 caps)
Tevita Vaikona (Saracens/Tonga RL)
Salesi Finau (Scarlets/Tonga – 11 caps)
Andre Snyman (Leeds Tykes/S.Africa – 36 caps)
Gerald Merceron (Clermont Auvergne/France – 32 caps)
Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa – 89 caps)
Craig Dowd (London Wasps/New Zealand – 59 caps)
Raphael Ibanez (Saracens/France – 72 caps)
Christian Califano (Agen/France – 68 caps)
Luke Gross (Newcastle Falcons/USA – 62 caps)
Simon Raiwalui (Saracens/Fiji – 39 caps)
Bobby Skinstad (S.Africa – 34 caps)
Corne Krige (Northampton Saints/South Africa – 39 caps)
Jim Williams (Munster/Australia – 14 caps
Replacements:
Trevor Leota (London Wasps/Samoa – 27 caps)
Rod Snow (Newport Gwent Dragons/Canada – 54 caps)
Zak Feaunati (Bath/Samoa – 9 caps)
Junior Paramore (Bedford/Samoa – 22 caps)
Mark Robinson (Northampton Saints/New Zealand – 3 caps)
Aisea Havili (Llanellis Scarlets/Tonga – 5 caps)
Epi Taione (Newcastle Falcons/Tonga – 7 caps)
Tickets for the ‘Tribute to the Legends’ Britain & Ireland XV v Rest of the World XV are £10 and £15 for adults, half price for concessions and £19 for a family ticket (2 adults/2 children).
There will be two curtain raisers before the main event featuring Rob Howley’s former school, Brynteg Under 15s against a Llanelli Schoolboys XV and a Bridgend Past & Present XV against a Llanelli Past & Present XV. Gates open at 12.15pm with the first game kicking-off at 12.30pm.
Tickets can be bought over the phone at Ticketmaster – 08705 582 582 – or by calling into the Millennium Stadium shop in St Mary Street, Cardiff.
