Hansen aims to be the great redeemer

STEVE HANSEN will be looking to restore some much-needed pride to Welsh rugby when the Barbarians visit the Millennium Stadium today.

Following the calamity of their ill-fated 6 Nations campaign, Hansen is set to make wholesale changes to his line-up. Garan Evans returns for the first time in five years and there are first full caps for number eight Alex Popham and Neath’s tight-head prop Adam Jones.

Llanelli lock Vernon Cooper gets a rare opportunity in the second row, while Cardiff fly-half Iestyn Harris is once again preferred at centre to Tom Shanklin in a side which will be led by Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams.