In years gone by, the era of the tour, this team would whop up the Barbarians, as they would have played four or five matches together already.  But this is 2009, and the All Black team is as hodge-podge as the Barbarians.

Donald, McAlister and Ellison in midfield have never played together before, just like the Barbarians midfield of Roberts, Fourie and number ten Gitau.  But I would rate those three proven international players over their All Black counterparts - one of whom is likely to not be getting another All Black jersey barring another injury run like this seasons.

Right through the two sides the comparisons are similar to the inside / midfield back one, where the Baabaa's side, while just introduced to each other this week, are not that disadvantaged, but the quality of their players, by and large, is better than their All Black opposites.

Probably the loose forward trio is the only spot where the All Blacks will hold the advantage, with McCaw and So'oilao veterans of about a million games together, and hopefully playing alongside these two modern day greats (yes, Rodders is a modern day minor great in my book), will being the best out of the Waikato captain.  He certainly needs to play up to his undoubted potential if he doesn't want to join Ellison on next years All Black reject list.  The trio they are up against is pretty classy all the same - George Smith, Rocky Elson and the eye-gouger Burger.  Although they have Smith listed at 8, so Burger must be the 'opensider'? 

The All Blacks though, are all class on the bench, with front line fatties Hore and Tialata ready to trundle on should Crockett get his arse handed to him again, as in the Eyetie test.  You then have Sivivatu who must be champing at the bit to have a go at Rokocoko, Thomson ready to go should Messam fail again, and Cowan there should Leonard play like shite again. 

Speaking of playing shite, this match means a lot to most of these All Blacks - well, all really, but a few need big efforts to keep in the selectors notebooks over summer.  Ellison needs to shite to show that he is not a stop gap until the injured Kahui and Toeava are right again, McAlister just needs to show some class - we know he has it, he has just kept it well hidden since his return from Blighty.  Donald and Leonard both need to show that they can take the step up - they've been given a half million chances each, and have taken about one of them, each!

In the fatties, Rodders, Messam, Eaton, Afoa and Crockett all need to step up against the big guys in the Baabaas, or it could be byebyes to the black jersey.

I think Boric and Flynn have both done enough on tour, as has Guildford.  The jury is out on Ben Smith - he hasn't made a dick of himself in his one test, so a big Super 14 will keep him in the picture next season, but he would be last cab off the rank for the All Black outside backs.  Flynn in particular was impressive against the Spaghettis, and if, IF he can stay unbroken should be in the All Black mix again next season - if Hika Elliot doesn't come good that is.

So can this All Black side, more like a New Zealand Barbarians team, beat the Barbarians?  Lets hope so, but a loss, while gauling, would not be the end of the world for this fan, as it is not a test match, and we know the team is very weak.  However, it would probably be the end of the world for many of the players mentioned above, or at least, the end of their All Black careers! 

New Zealand: 15Cory Jane, 14Ben Smith, 13Tamati Ellison, 12Luke McAlister, 11Zac Guildford, 10Stephen Donald, 9Brendon Leonard, 8Rodney So'oialo, 7Richie McCaw (captain), 6Liam Messam, 5Anthony Boric, 4Jason Eaton, 3John Afoa, 2Corey Flynn, 1Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16Andrew Hore, 17Neemia Tialata, 18Adam Thomson, 19Tanerau Latimer, 20Jimmy Cowan, 21Mike Delany, 22Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Barbarians: 15Drew Mitchell (Australia), 14Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand), 13Jaque Fourie (South Africa), 12Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11Bryan Habana (South Africa), 10Matt Giteau (Australia), 9Fourie du Preez (South Africa), 8George Smith (Australia), 7Schalk Burger (South Africa), 6Rocky Elsom (Australia), 5Victor Matfield (captain, South Africa), 4Carlo del Fava (Italy), 3WP Nel (Free State), 2Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1Salvatore Perugini (Italy).

Reserves: 16Stephen Moore (Australia), 17Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa), 18Quintin Geldenhuys (Italy), 19Andy Powell (Wales), 20Will Genia (Australia), 21Morne Steyn (South Africa), 22Leigh Halfpenny (Wales).