Johannesburg - Six South Africans have been included in the Barbarians squad to play Samoa in an international at London's Olympic Park on Saturday.
Among the forwards are lock Bakkies Botha, prop Maks van Dyk and loose forwards Pierre Spies and Jacques Potgieter. Scrumhalf Nic Groom and centre Wynand Olivier were named among the backs.
Groom (WP) and Van Dyk (Free State Cheetahs) were allowed by their provinces to miss Currie Cup duty this weekend to get a taste of international rugby. It will be the first rugby match to be staged at the iconic Olympic stadium.
The Barbarians are coached by New Zealand's Jamie Joseph, who this year coached the Highlanders to their maiden Super Rugby title. Former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer will be his assistant.
Altogether the Baa-Baas have included four World Cup-winners in the squad - New Zealand's Ali Williams and Adam Thomson, as well as Botha and Olivier. They are joined up front by Australia's Benn Robinson.
Behind the scrum, there are four Wallabies in scrumhalf Luke Burgess, flyhalf Mike Harris, and centres Christian Leali'ifano and Ben Tapuai Former Samoa full-back Paul Williams, now with Paris-based Stade Francais, is also included in a squad totalling 545 international caps.
Williams's father, New Zealand wing great Bryan, played against the Barbarians in what is considered to be the invitational side's greatest match when a star-studded team beat the All Blacks 23-11 in Cardiff - a match that featured a try by legendary Wales scrum-half Gareth Edwards, often acclaimed as the best in rugby history.
Saturday's match will both act as a warm-up for Samoa ahead of their involvement in the 2015 World Cup in England and allow officials a 'dry run' for when the Olympic Stadium stages five matches during the showpiece tournament - including the third place play-off.
Samoa begin their World Cup Pool B campaign against the United States in Brighton, on England's south coast, with the Pacific Islanders facing South Africa, Scotland and Japan in their remaining group matches.
Barbarians squad:
Backs Luke Burgess (Zebre/AUS), Tom English (Melbourne Rebels), Nic Groom (Stormers), Mike Harris (Melbourne Rebels/AUS), Christian Leali'ifano (Brumbies/AUS), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Glasgow), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier/RSA), Dom Shipperley (Melbourne Rebels), Dwayne Sweeney (Munakata Sanix Blues), Ben Tapuai (Western Force/AUS), Paul Williams (Stade Francais/SAM) Forwards Bakkies Botha (RSA), Saia Fainga'a (Queensland Reds/AUS), Liam Gill (Queensland Reds/AUS), Carl Hayman (NZL), Joshua Hohneck (Highlanders), Luke Jones (Melbourne Rebels), Tolu Latu (Waratahs), Jacques Potgeiter (Munakata Sanix Blues/RSA), Benn Robinson (Waratahs/AUS), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls/RSA), Adam Thomson (Queensland Reds/NZL), Kyle Traynor (Bristol/SCO), Maks van Dyke (Cheetahs), Ali Williams (NZL) - African News Agency (ANA)