O’Sullivan Selected As Barbarians Coach

Ireland boss Eddie O’Sullivan has been announced as coach to the Barbarians team for their December 1 fixture against South Africa at Twickenham.

The game, scheduled for Saturday, December 1, will be the latest in a series of historic encounters between the Barbarians and the Springboks which dates back to 1952.

Barbarians president Micky Steele-Bodger, who was a touch judge in the first game 55 years ago at Cardiff Arms Park, said: “This will be the sixth match between South Africa and the Barbarians and at present the Springboks have the edge at three matches to two.

“So far the victories have alternated between us and if that pattern should continue then on December 1, it will become all square again. Up to now we have won in Cardiff and Dublin but not at Twickenham – we must put that right.

“But judging by recent results in the Super 14 series, where two South African sides contested the final, and then watching the Springboks beating the England touring team, it will be a tough challenge for us in December and we look forward to it.”

The Baa-Baas committee confirmed today that Eddie O’Sullivan, Ireland’s highly-regarded coach since November 2001, will be in charge of preparing the Barbarians team for the match. He is expected to have a full complement of top-class players from around the world in his squad.

The Springboks’ world-class winger Bryan Habana said: “We do not often get the chance to play the Barbarians and to do so at such a world famous venue will be awesome.”

The Baa-Baas’ two victories over the Springboks rank among the greatest days in the touring side’s history. Their 6-0 triumph in 1961 deprived their opponents of an invincible record in their final fixture of a 29-match tour of Britain. They repeated the feat in 1994 with a 23-15 win at Lansdowne Road.

This year’s match will be the eighth time the Barbarians have played a major touring team at Twickenham, the most recent being the 2004 fixture against New Zealand.

The Baa-Baas’ recent summer tour saw them claim two wins over Spain (52-26) and Tunisia (33-10), with Ireland-capped players Tyrone Howe, Guy Easterby, Kevin Maggs and Justin Fitzpatrick all involved.

Tickets for the Baa-Baas-Springboks games will be available from Ticketmaster UK (tel: 0044 (0) 8709020000 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk).