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The sentimental reason behind Baa-Baas midfield selection

Virimi Vakatawa (Photo by Frederic Stevens/Getty Images)

Fabien Galthie, who led France to the Six Nations Grand Slam, has revealed he ripped up his plans for the Barbarians team to face England at Twickenham on Sunday after the players held their first dinner during their training camp in Monaco.

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Galthie had decided to use Fijian Levani Botia, who can play in the backs and forwards for La Rochelle, as flanker against England until he heard about the player’s schoolboy rugby career. Botia, nicknamed “Demolition Man”, was in the same school team as fellow Fijian Virimi Vakatawa and they were centre partners. Vakatawa is now a key member of Galthie’s French team and on discovering the link between the players he decided to reunite them in the Barbarians mid-field which means England are going to face two of the most potent attackers in European rugby.

Galthie said: “Yes, I hope it is a dangerous midfield for us. At the beginning we wanted to put Botia at No.6 position but after one dinner we learned that Botia and Vakatawa played together in the same school team in Fiji. They have never played since then and so it is like a present for them and for us for them to play together against England at Twickenham. So we changed our plan and so they are in their school positions when they were eight or nine years old.

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Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

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    Will Skelton on Champions Cup celebrations and playing for the Barbarians | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 38

    The big rig Will Skelton joins us from Monaco this week where he’s on tour with the Barbarians and rooming with George Kruis. He fills us in on the tour so far, hanging out at the palace with the Prince and who’s leading the charge off the pitch. We also hear about his man-of-the-match performance for La Rochelle in the Champions Cup Final, that famous open-top bus celebration and what it’s like playing for coaches like O’Gara and Cheika.

    “In the Barbarians team we have some nice stories like this and we are very happy about that.“

    One of the other “nice stories” involves Will Skelton who has not been selected by the Wallabies which is bad news for the England pack with the La Rochelle lock able to partner fellow former Saracen George Kruis, playing his final game before retiring. “He is an international player and I do not know what the position is with the Australian Union and maybe they try to pick players who are in the country and not pick (Skelton) because it is not politic? :” said Galthie. “But, in this case it is an opportunity for him to play with George and they are back together.

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    “We spent three days in Monaco with a nice view of the sea and then in Nice we played the French U20 and then we had a session with Esher, it was very friendly, and we mixed the two teams up.

    “The French staff (the entire France coaching unit is with the Barbarians) are preparing for two tests in Japan (in July) using the same methods and so with 19 French players it is a good experience. This is the British Barbarians with a French accent – it is a bit eccentric. Will we be more flamboyant? We will try our best on Sunday and we have a good mix of young talented players and it can be a French development with players like George Kruis, Will Skelton and Botia. Charlies Ollivon is back after recovering from his injury.

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    “At the start of the week we told the players about the history of the Barbarians and showed some of the tries and the one Phil Bennett started in 1973. He was French! Sometimes the French and Welsh are the same.”

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    R
    RedWarrior 2 hours ago
    The reason given by Steve Borthwick for latest England setback

    So England are allowed to have a tsunami whinge fest about the ref but if an Irish fan points out that some decisions hurt Ireland also they are being petulant.

    Honestly some English supporters are all politeness until they lose then the claws and fangs come out.

    Ok here we go, not complaints just pointing out where England got away with roul play:

    1: M Smiths headbutt on James Lowe that started the fracas with Stewart. If the ref spots that in time then thats a second yellow if not a straight red for Smith. Probably worth another 14 points with England gassed so a 41-10 final scoreline?

    2: Itoje's several stamps on Hansens instep in a clear attempt to damage metatarsals. Straight red or if he is lucky, 10 in the bin.

    3. Currys block on Baird to create a gap that Smith used to break the line. Penalty and possession for Ireland deep in England 22 with score at 0:0.

    4: The correct decision for the Cunningham South dangerous tackle was a yellow. Lowe blew it by confronting him. The ref didn't give South or Lowe a yellow. The ref couldn't give Lowe a yellow anyway as the TMO would have informed him that m Smith alone started the previosu fracas and its not unreasonable for a player to react to being headbutted.


    One last thing missing from English analysis

    How is coming over to Dublin acting like you own the place, committing filthy cowardly off the ball cheap shots working out for you? I mean you clearly dont care that we think your team are a crowd of a$$holes but...... rugby wise, how is riling the Irish team to focus and get the best out of themselves against such unpleasant opposition working for you on the scoreboard?


    Food for thought old boy!!!!

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