Match Preview – Barbarians vs Fiji

Fans will be treated to a free-flowing spectacle of rugby at Twickenham on Saturday as the Barbarians take on Fiji in the Killik Cup. It’s the third time the two sides have gone head-to-head in recent years, previously colliding in 2013 and 2016.

The match features several interesting story lines. Ireland hooker Rory Best will captain the Eddie Jones-coached Barbarians in his final outing before retirement. Best will share the stage with three members of South Africa’s World Cup-winning side – loosehead prop Beast Mtawarira, left wing Makazole Mapimpi, and outside center Lukhanyo Am. The latter is named on the bench.

Fiji international prop Campese Ma’afu will face the team he represented in Japan having played on the opposite side of the pitch in the match three years ago. There are two Americas selects in the starting lineup – Argentina prop Enrique Pieretto and Canada’s Tyler Ardron will each make their debut for the invitational side.

The Flying Fijians will be captained by livewire scrumhalf Frank Lomani, who will play Super Rugby in 2020 for the Melbourne Rebels. Lomani is one of just four of Fiji’s World Cup squad in the lineup, the others prop Eroni Mawi, hooker Veremalua Vugakoto, and flanker Mosese Voka.

Of interest to American fans is the significant presence of Major League Rugby talent. Vugakoto will play for the Utah Warriors this coming season, and starting fullback Enele Malele is headed to the Austin Herd. Replacement lock Tevita Naqali has signed for Old Glory DC. The opposite backline is headlined by Mathieu Bastareaud, who joins Rugby United New York following his Barbarians commitments.

Kickoff is set for 2:30pm local time, 6:30am Pacific, 9:30am Eastern. A live broadcast will be available on BBC One for those with access.

BARBARIANS
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Rory Best (capt.), 3 Enrique Pieretto, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Tyler Ardron, 6 Peter Samu, 7 Marco van Staden, 8 Josh Strauss, 9 Joe Powell, 10 Curwin Bosch, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 André Esterhuizen, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 15 David Havili

Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Campese Ma’afu, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Angus Cottrell, 20 Matt Philip, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Lukhanyo Am, 23 Morné Steyn

FIJI
1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 3 Samuela Tawake, 4 Temo Mayanavanua, 5 Sikeli Nabou, 6 Mosese Voka, 7 Johnny Dyer, 8 Eremasi Radrodro, 9 Frank Lomani (capt.), 10 Teti Tela, 11 Patrick Osborne, 12 Serupepeli Vularika, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 15 Enele Malele

Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Joeli Veitayaki, 18 Mosese Ducivaki, 19 Tevita Naqali, 20 Mesulame Kunavula, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Cyril Reece

Date: Saturday, November 16
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kickoff: 14:30 local (06:30 Pacific, 09:30 Eastern)
Referee: Tom Foley (England)
Assistants: Simon Harding (England) & Dean Richards (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)
Broadcasts: BBC