Shane Jennings is going to the get the farewell he deserves after years of service to Irish rugby
The Barbarians have named their team to face Ireland this Thursday evening at Thomond Park and the Leinster man has been given the honour of leading the select outfit in his final game as a professional.
“It’s a huge honour, I was quite shocked when Robbie said it. It was just an honour to be selected, we’re all excited to keep with the tradition, enjoy it and understand the responsibility we have,’ Jennings told the Irish Independent.
“It means so much to the lads, guys who are seasoned pros and internationals, they understand the responsibility. I’ve always wanted to play on a Barbarians team.”
There will be familiar faces wherever the 33-year-old flanker looks, with a host of Leinster players in Joe Schmidt’s side and team-mates Jimmy Gopperth and Zane Kirchner lining out for the Baa-Baas.
The famous select XV also includes Welsh Lions Adam Jones and Alex Cuthbert and Ulster scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, while All Black legend Joe Rokocoko lines out at centre.
Barbarians (vs Ireland): Z Kirchner (Leinster/South Africa); A Cuthbert (Cardiff/Wales), J Rokocoko (Bayonne/New Zealand), W Olivier (Montpellier/South Africa), D Smith (Toulon); J Gopperth (Leinster), R Pienaar (Ulster/South Africa); R Tejerizo (Tucuman/Argentina), Deon Fourie (Lyon), Adam Jones (Cardiff/Wales); R Capo Ortega (Castres/Uruguay), K Mikautadze (Toulon/Georgia); S Jennings (Leinster/Ireland, capt), G Vosloo (Toulon), R Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights/Japan).
Replacements: D Ward (Harlequins), S Taumoepeau (Castres/New Zealand), M Diaz (Pampas/Argentina), G Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights/New Zealand), G Smith (Lyon/Australia), T Cubelli (Belgrano Ath/Argentina), T Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath/Samoa), G Aplon (Grenoble/South Africa).
