Ireland captain for the night Ronan O’Gara found plenty of positives in the performance of his makeshift XV despite their 29-28 defeat to the Barbarians in Gloucester last night.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has thrown down the gauntlet to Saturday’s Heineken Cup finalists on the fringes of the Test side to prove they are worth a place on next month’s tour to New Zealand.

Wales centre Gavin Henson is set to make his return to rugby after accepting an invitation to play for the Barbarians against South Africa at Twickenham in December.

Ireland 23 Barbarians 29

IF rugby matches were played on paper, few would give the Irish team much of a chance against the Barbarians in tonight’s game at Thomond Park.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL will not be involved in tomorrow night’s clash of Ireland and the Barbarians at Thomond Park but he’s not complaining.

Ireland internationals Alan Quinlan and Malcolm O’Kelly will face their countrymen as part of the Barbarians line-up for Friday’s non-cap international at Thomond Park in Limerick.

South Africa captain John Smit will lead a star-studded Barbarians side against Australia in Wednesday’s Olympic centenary clash at Wembley.

Wales star Shane Williams has been named in the Barbarians squad for next month’s London Olympic Centenary match against Australia at Wembley.

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw will play for the Barbarians against Australia in the Olympic Centenary Match at Wembley on December 3.

London Irish back Mike Catt and Sale Sharks forward Chris Jones have been added to the Barbarian squad which will take on New Zealand at Twickenham on December 4.

French Grand Slam stars Oliver Magne and Damien Traille will both line up for the Barbarians against Wales at Ashton Gate on Wednesday night.

Scotland 33 Barbarians 40

Scotland 7 Barbarians 28

IRELAND centres Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy have agreed to play for the Barbarians on next month's three-match tour of Britain.

The Barbarians have added the Irish centre pairing, the most dangerous centre partnership in world rugby, to their squad for next month’s three-match tour of Britain.

Former New Zealand star Zinzan Brooke is relishing the prospect of coaching the Barbarians against Leicester in the NIG Challenge match on Wednesday.

Scotland 15 Barbarians 24

The Barbarians have named a strong line-up from their star-studded squad for the opening match of their Lloyds TSB tour against England at Twickenham on Sunday.

IT IS the try seared into the memory of every rugby fan.

Rob Howley will lead the Barbarians against Australia at the Millennium Stadium next month.

Scotland vice-captain Gordon Bulloch has warned his team-mates not to be drawn into the Barbarians' 'web' ahead of the game at Murrayfield.