News

All Blacks to face NZ Barbarians

Tuesday 14th October 2008

Picked: Henry has all but picked his touring squad

The All Blacks will play a warm-up game against a New Zealand Barbarians team before they embark on their tour to Hong Kong and Europe.

The game will take place on Wednesday 22 October at Trusts Stadium in Waitakere and the New Zealand Barbarians side will be feature players from the Blues franchise area, coached by Pat Lam.

All Black coach Graham Henry will name his official 35-man touring squad on October 26, although he has admitted the squad is as good as picked.

Apart from serving as a warm-up for the All Blacks, who head to Hong Kong for a Bledisloe Cup game against Australia before heading to Europe, the game will also act as a final trial for the Blues - who are set to name their Super 14 squad on October 31.

The match continues attempts to revive a New Zealand Barbarians team that played its last meaningful match against England at Twickenham in 2003.

An inability to call on professional players has seen the Barbarians concept fade since, although there was an attempt to revive it in a pre-World Cup match against the All Blacks last year.

Playing under the auspices of the Barbarians, a selection of club players took on the All Blacks in two 50-minute matches, losing 79-0 and 69-0.