Sport

Campese doubtful for Barbarians

FOLLOWING the forced withdrawal of South Africa's World Cup captain Francois Pienaar from the Barbarians team to meet Ireland…

By EDMUND VAN ESBECK
Wed May 15 1996 - 01:00

FOLLOWING the forced withdrawal of South Africa's World Cup captain Francois Pienaar from the Barbarians team to meet Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, there is now a doubt about David Campese.

The Australian damaged a knee playing for New South Wales and recovery is proving more troublesome than expected. The position about Campese's availability should be more definite today.

But Pienaar, who injured a knee and broke his nose playing for Transvaal last Saturday, has confirmed that he is travelling to Dublin for the match.

He had a medical examination in Johannesburg yesterday and got clearance to fly to Dublin, despite the nose and the damaged knee cartilage and ligaments.

READ MORE

"I am delighted to be able to travel to Dublin. I am very disappointed that I will not be able to play. But I fully support the concept behind the match and want to be identified with it. If I cannot play, the next best thing I can do is to give it my full support by being present," he said last night.

As yet no replacement has been named for Pienaar, but able bodies have been found to replace three other forwards, Ben Clarke, Warwick Waugh and Olivier Roumat, who have had to withdraw from the Barbarians pack. Clarke has been out of action for several weeks with a knee injury and is not fit enough to play, Waugh damaged ankle ligaments last weekend, and Roumat is ruled out as his Club Dax are engaged in a French championship match.

Clarke's place at number eight will be taken by Dean Richards, French international and Grenoble captain Olivier Brouzet takes over from Waugh, and England international Nigel Redman comes in for Roumat.

The Barbarians will train at Williamstown on Friday, while Ireland assemble tonight. Ireland will train at Anglesea Road tonight, Lansdowne Road tomorrow and Anglesea Road on Friday.

As part of the weekend, there will be a touch football tournament at Anglesea Road on Friday. This will involve 16 male and four female teams from around the country. The tournament is being labelled "Touch for Peace".

Ireland's Gary Halpin has been named in the Barbarians squad for their two-match trip to Japan next month. There are 18 internationals in the 22-strong party which is going to help raise funds for the Kobe Earthquake Fund.