ALAN Quinlan will run out in the famous black and white of the Barbarians this weekend in Thomond Park against his own country. It will be a special night for the Munster man as he plays his first ever game for the renowned invitational side.
‘Quinnie’ however, hopes this will not be the last time he is on the field with Ireland. The Munster number six, 35 in July, still dreams of playing for Ireland again.
“I spoke to Declan Kidney about the recent squad and he said that he was looking to the World Cup with his squad. I wasn’t in consideration for the squad this time around. There is a lot of talent in the back row and I suppose age is something that is a factor for me. I feel I would have enjoyed the tour and I still think I could have offered something down under. I have said before that I would never retire from international rugby. I feel that once I am playing for Munster, I could still go up a level with Ireland. If I was called upon I would always play for Ireland, but I have no problem with Declan and the naming of his squad”.
The Clanwilliam man comes off the back of a season of good personal form. Although Quinlan doesn’t feel that personal form is worth anything unless the team wins. “I don’t really look at my own form to be honest. I always look for wins. I have a winning mentality and so when it comes to form, the team is the most important part”
With the competitive rigours of the season over, the Barbarians match this weekend allows some players to unwind and play one last match before the summer begins. Quinlan feels that this is the key to Barbarians winning this weekend. “Some of the lads playing here have recently won and lost European finals. It would have been easy for them to switch off and head away on holidays, but once that invite comes, it is a hard thing to turn down. I am so honoured to be selected to play with the Barbarians. I hope now that we can honour this famous shirt on Friday night at Thomond Park.
Indeed, the Barbarians tradition lives on. To see the calibre of players in the squad for this week, just shows the pride the jersey exhumes. The backrow alone on Friday night is something straight out of a dream team. Alan Quinlan, George Smith and Xavier Rush. Pierre Mignoni and Brock James at half back will run the show, but with Warwick, Heymans and David Smith in the back three, expect the ball to be out wide and often.
The Barbarians side will be lead by Cardiff Blues number eight Xavier Rush. The bubbly New Zealander would not be drawn on his proposed move to Ulster. Instead the giant was more worried about how he was going to control Alan Quinlan and George Smith. “It is an honour to captain the Baba’s, but I don’t think I can control any of these lads. The best thing about this side is that you are now playing with lads who you have played against for so long. You may think you know a guy, but then you meet him and he is totally different”.
Barbarians coach Philip Saint Andre is “hoping for sunshine” on Friday to allow his team to “respect the jersey and the style of play of the Barbarians”. Forwards coach Kingsley Jones mirrored those comments and also spoke of how easy it was to coach such a talented bunch. “When you are coaching line outs and Mal O Kelly and Jerome Thion are in it, it is not really coaching is it. This team has so much experience. We are all looking forward to Friday” So are we Kingsley.
Barbarians Team to play Ireland:
Paul Warwick (Munster), Cedric Heymans (Toulouse), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), Seru Rabini (Leeds Carnegie), David Smith (Hurricanes), Brock James (Clermont Auvergne), Pierre Mignoni (Toulon), David Barnes (Bath), Schalk Brits (Saracens), Census Johnston (Toulouse), Jerome Thion (Biarritz), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster), Alan Quinlan (Munster), George Smith (Brumbies), Xavier Rush (Cardiff Blues), captain Subs: Benoit August (Biarritz), Julian White (Leicester Tigers), Rodney So’oialo (Hurricanes), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Byron Kelleher (Toulouse), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), Paul Sackey (London Wasps) or Fabrice Estebanez (Brive)
