Rugby Union: Full-back Campese to face Baa-Baas

DAVID CAMPESE, the most exciting back of his generation, reverts to his old position of full- back for the French Barbarians against the original Barbarians in Paris tonight.

Campese played 16 Tests at fullback for Australia before becoming the most prolific try-scorer in history with his explosive finishing on the wing.

Another Australian great, Nick Farr-Jones, who retired from the Test scene two years ago, joins Campese in alliance with 13 Frenchmen of varying vintages, including the only man to surpass 100 Test caps, Philippe Sella. He is reunited with Didier Codorniou, recalling their centre partnership of the early 1980s.

Frenchmen from the past are peppered around the home team, but the visiting Barbarians' internationals are all operating at the top level.

The British-based Barbarians have ensured there should be plenty of ball by picking the combative Graham Dawe and Peter Clohessy in the front row and the huge locks Chris Tregaskis - an uncapped Kiwi - and the young Australian John Eales.

The French Barbarians have had to make a change to their original selection. The flanker Leon Loppy was accused of abusing a touch judge at the weekend and is facing a suspension so Gregory Kacala plays instead.

After the Barbarians helped Bath commemorate 100 years at the Rec on Saturday - they lost 23-18 - this will be the first match at the Stade Charlety, the Paris University Club's new ground. But the real reason for this encounter is to form part of the celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Paris from German occupation. That is why a South African, an American, a New Zealander, an Australian and a Canadian have been inserted into the Barbarians team as their countrymen provided part of the liberating forces.

BARBARIANS: A Joubert (SA); M Dods (Gala and Scotland), D Hopley (Wasps), G Shiel (Melrose and Scotland), N Walker (Cardiff and Wales); P Hull (Bristol and England), K Bracken (Bristol and England); C Lippert (US), G Dawe (Bath and England), P Clohessy (Young Munster and Ireland), C Tregaskis (Wellington, NZ), J Eales (Australia), A Charron (Canada), R Wainwright (West Hartlepool and Scotland), N Back (Leicester and England).

FRENCH BARBARIANS: D Campese; E Ntamack, P Sella, D Codorniou, P Lagisquet; D Charvet, N Farr-Jones; M Perie, M Dal Maso, G Lascube, O Brouset, J Condom, G Kacala, L Rodriguez, H-M Lhermet.

Referee: J Dume (France).