Wales vs Barbarians

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 16: Curwin Bosch of the Barbarians looks on during the Killik Cup match between Barbarians and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on November 16, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Barbarians )

Wales vs Barbarians preview: Livestream info, teams and times

Wales vs Barbarians promises to be a spectacular end to what has been a phenomenal year of international rugby in 2019.

Wales vs Barbarians

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 16: Curwin Bosch of the Barbarians looks on during the Killik Cup match between Barbarians and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on November 16, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Barbarians )

Hookers Schalk Brits and Rory Best will play their final games of rugby at the Principality Stadium on Saturday Wales vs Barbarians clash.

The Barbarians will be coached by former Wales coach Warren Gatland who had initially planned for the match to be his farewell as the Dragons coach.

A farewell that wasn’t

“There have been a lot of jokes flying around about the challenges that [Wales new coach Wayne Pivac] faces,” Gatland said ahead of the fixture.

“He needs a little bit of time to put his own personality onto it and his own imprint on the game, working with the other coaches, gelling together, and that takes some time.

“That was why I felt it was really important to have this game. Initially, when I was told about this game going ahead, the idea was that it was going to be my last game in charge of Wales.

“I just felt that it was not right for that to happen. I was finished after the Rugby World Cup and it was a great chance for the new coaching team to come in and to get some time with the players.

“This will give them a good chance to assess those players and help them build for the Six Nations, and I just felt that was really important.

“Rather than the Barbarians asking me, I had to ask the Barbarians if I could coach them against Wales! It was important for Wales and for the new management team too.

“It was funny on Tuesday because I went back to my apartment, which overlooks the training ground, and actually drove past while they were training,” Gatland said.

“I thought, ‘this is a bit weird’ so I made sure I didn’t look out of the car window. It felt a bit awkward really.

“But it’s a great opportunity for me to say thank you to the fans and the Welsh public for 12 brilliant years. It’s been amazing.

“I don’t think I can lose really, either way. But we’re here to play some rugby and we’re here to give a good performance.

“The competitive side comes out of me so, over the next 48 hours, it’s about getting ourselves right.

“When those competitive juices start to flow, it’s about delivering a performance and hopefully the Barbarians winning.”

Wales vs Barbarians – strongest Welsh side possible

Wales coach Wayne Pivac has picked a team that he describes as his strongest possible side.

“We are putting out a side that is strong as it could possibly be really. There are some players getting a great opportunity, people like Dillon Lewis. He gets another go at tighthead prop.

“You have got Tomos Williams getting a start – he hasn’t had a lot of starts – at scrum-half and Johnny McNicholl on the wing, Adam Beard and Jake Ball together at lock. You normally see Alun Wyn Jones in that second-row.

“It’s continuing to build the depth, which Warren Gatland had been doing over the last few years.

“We are going to be really focused on trying to get as much as we can out of the game and the week so we hit the ground running in Six Nations, a week advanced of where we would have been.

“All the introductions are out of the way, we’re starting to learn more about each other and some of the stuff the coaches are starting to put in their various areas is getting a warm reception so, so far, so good.

“Both teams will want to get a result. The nature of players at a professional level is you put yourself up against an opponent and you want to knock them over.”

Owens to ref Wales for first time

The Wales Rugby Union also asked World Rugby for special permission to allow Nigel Owens to referee the game. The match will therefore also serve as a kind of tribute to arguably the best official of his generation.

The WRU said: “A further unique move will see Welsh refereeing royalty Nigel Owens officiate a match involving his native country for the first time in his career – after receiving special dispensation from World Rugby.”

Owens says he plans to sing the Welsh anthem as loudly and proudly as the players but will do his job with the utmost professionalism.

“Too right I will,” said Welsh speaker Owens when asked if he would join in on the anthem.

“Obviously, whenever Wales play I’m normally doing a match elsewhere in Europe, or in another part of the world,” he says.

“But my fellow referees tell me that standing there on the pitch at the Principality Stadium when our own anthem is sung makes Cardiff THE place to be.

“I’m there to do my job and that means being completely impartial and 100 per cent fair to the two sides.”

Wales vs Barbarians Team news

There will be plenty of South African influence among the Barbarians with Curwin Bosch starting at flyhalf again in a backline that also includes Dillyn Leyds and Andre Esterhuizen.

Among the forwards is uncapped prop Wiehahn Herbst who is qualified to play for both Ireland and South Africa.

Brits is on the bench for what will be his final game of rugby, his introduction to the game is likely to mark the end of Ireland legend Rory Best’s incredible career.

Springbok flank Marco van Staden will start in a backrow that includes South African born Scotland international Josh Strauss at eighthman.

Former Springbok scrumhalf Jano Vermaak is also on the bench as is Sunwolves Prop.

Wales vs Barbarians teams

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Justin Tipuric (c), 8 Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Owen Lane.

Barbarians: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Cornal Hendricks, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Bryn Hall; 1 Campese Ma’afu, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 4 Luke Jones, 5 Tyler Ardron, 6 Pete Samu, 7 Marco van Staden, 8 Josh Strauss.

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 George Biagi, 20 Angus Cottrell, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Billy Meakes, 23 Matt Duffie.

Livestream and broadcast details 

The Wales vs Barbarians match will be broadcast on Supersport 1 (DSTV channel 201) and CSN. The match will be livestreamed through the DSTV Now app or website.

Wales vs Barbarians match details

Kick off: 16:45 SAST

Referee: Nigel Owens

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales