Parisse to lead Baa-Baas against Lions in Hong Kong

HONG KONG (AFP) –

Italy’s captain Sergio Parisse looks on during a press conference in Rome, on February 2, 2013. Barbarians coach Dai Young has named Parisse as captain Wednesday to lead a strong Barbarians line-up against the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong.

Barbarians coach Dai Young named Italy number eight Sergio Parisse as captain Wednesday to lead a strong Barbarians line-up against the British and Irish Lions in Hong Kong.

Young has looked to beef up the side who lost 40-12 to England on Sunday with the inclusion of Parisse, fellow Italian stalwart and tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni, and All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko in the starting team.

The 37-man Lions party contains 15 Welshmen but prop Paul James is the only starter from the principality for the Barbarians and could face the prospect of packing down against his national front-row team-mate Adam Jones.

Parisse takes over the armband from former England skipper Mike Tindall, who was named among the replacements for Saturday’s game at Hong Kong Stadium, the first match in Asia in the Lions’ 125-year history.

The combined British and Irish team are opening their 10-match tour in Hong Kong before flying to Australia, where they will face the Wallabies in three Tests in Brisbane on June 22, Melbourne on June 29 and Sydney on July 6.

Team (15-1) – Jared Payne (Ulster/NZL); Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne/NZL), Elliot Daly (London Wasps/ENG), Casey Laulala (Munster/NZL), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz Olympique/USA); Nick Evans (Harlequins/NZL), Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz Olympique/FRA); Sergio Parisse (capt, Stade Francais/ITA), Sam Jones (London Wasps/ENG), Samu Manoa (Northampton/USA); Dean Mumm (Exeter Chiefs/AUS), Marco Wentzel (London Wasps/RSA); Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester/ITA), Schalk Brits (Saracens/RSA), Paul James (Bath/WAL)

Replacements: Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso/ITA), Duncan Jones (Ospreys/WAL), Andrea Lo Cicero (Racing Metro 92/ITA), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester/SCO), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz Olympique/FRA), Kahn Fotuali’i (Ospreys/SAM), James Hook (Perpignan/WAL), Mike Tindall (Gloucester/ENG)