Classic Cooper clips as Quade leads exciting Barbarians vs Wallabies

Playmaker Quade Cooper has been selected as captain of an exciting Barbarians team that will take on his former side when the Wallabies host the invitation team in Sydney on Saturday. Here is a quick look at some of his best bits of outrageous skill over the years. 

Cooper is just one of a number of Australians and Kiwis in the side. With 70 Test caps, he’s the most experienced player in the starting lineup, so will marshall an entertaining backline.

Joining him are Samoa fullback Tim Nanai-Williams and New Zealanders Augustine Pulu and George Moala as well as three Aussies in Taqele Naiyaravoro, Tom Banks and Eto Nabuli.

Another experienced Wallaby has been drafted into the forward pack with Wycliff Palu a late addition to the squad following the withdrawal of Jacques Potgieter through injury.

Veteran prop Ben Alexander has been added to the replacements following the injury sustained by Sef Fa’agase against the Classic Wallabies this week, and the bench also features teenage scrum half Theo Strang, a highly-rated 18 year-old product of Scots College in Sydney.

The second leg of the Barbarians fixtures, then under Robbie Deans, sees them face New Zealand at Twickenham before taking on Tonga at Thomond Park in Limerick (November 10).

Below is a look at the best of Cooper in action, plus some words from Drew Mitchell – who this week played for the Classic Wallabies – on the Barbarians experience

Hey @barbarian_FC here’s a little something for ya from @drew_mitchell @stevehoiles @rodkafer on your skip. See you soon x @FOXrugbylive pic.twitter.com/u76g73D6el

— Sean Maloney (@seanny202) October 11, 2017

BARBARIANS TEAM

15 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs & Samoa)
14 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs & Australia)
13 Tom Banks (Brumbies)
12 George Moala (Blues & New Zealand)
11 Eto Nabuli (Reds & Australia)
10 Quade Cooper (Reds & Australia, captain)
9 Augustine Pulu (Blues & New Zealand)
1 Pekahou Cowan (Force & Australia)
2 Andrew Ready (Reds)
3 Taniela Tupou (Reds)
4 Luke Jones (Bordeaux Begles & Australia)
5 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia)
6 Isi Naisarani (Force)
7 Matt Hodgson (Force & Australia, vice-captain)
8 Wycliff Palu (Toyota Verblitz & Australia)

Replacements:
16 Anaru Rangi (Force)
17 Ben Alexander (Brumbies & Australia)
18 Salesi Manu (Bond)
19 Matt Philip (Force)
20 Kane Koteka (Force)
21 Theo Strang (Sydney University)
22 Sam Greene (Toyota Verblitz)
23 Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs)
24th man: Sam Ward (Warringah)

video credit: foxsportsau