Barbarians in focus for Lions test after a sobering experience

Welsh coach Dai Young has demanded a significant improvement from the Baa-Baas after their heavy 40-12 defeat to England last Sunday, and the squad have responded this week by doing away with their regular “team bonding” drinking sessions.

Team manager Derek Quinnell told reporters at a press conference in Hong Kong: “The players have put a ban on themselves really.

“We went out last night for an hour with (representatives from Danish brewers) Carlsberg and I think they were under the impression that a few pints would be sunk, but about 90 per cent of the players were drinking coke.

“They know that last weekend wasn’t good enough and it was a kick up the backside for us.”

The Barbarians trailed 40-0 to England before getting on the scoreboard with tries from Elliott Daly and Schalk Brits, and they know more is expected against Warren Gatland’s men.

Young said: “We are not going to shy away from the fact that we all felt let down afterwards. We didn’t play anything like we expected and we know we are going to have to be a lot better.

“The players realised themselves that they have to step things up this week, and preparation and training has been spot on. We have been concentrating on getting the basics right.”

Italy’s Sergio Parisse will captain the side on Saturday and lines up at No 8 in a much-changed side.

He will be flanked in the back row by Northampton’s Samu Manoa and Wasps’ Sam Jones, one of three uncapped players along with club-mate Daly – who switches from full-back to outside centre – and incoming No 15 Jared Payne of Ulster.

Wales’ Paul James and Italy’s Martin Castrogiovanni are the props either side of Brits, who steps up from the bench, while Wasps’ South Africa lock Marco Wentzel is the only forward retained in the starting line-up and is joined in the second row by Australia’s Dean Mumm.

Welsh pair James Hook and Dwayne Peel are replaced by Nick Evans and Dimitri Yachvili in the half-back positions while Joe Rokocoko joins fellow All Black Casey Laulala and United States international Takudzwa Ngwenya in a three-quarter line completed by Daly.

Hong Kong wing Rowan Varty joins the match-day squad due to a groin strain suffered by former England centre Mike Tindall, who will be assessed on the morning of the game.

Saturday’s clash is the opening game of the Lions’ tour before they proceed to Australia for three Tests and another six fixtures against Australian state sides and a combined New South Wales-Queensland XV.