Marshall to play for baa baas

Justin Marshall is heading to Europe after all.

The 31-year-old scrum-half has accepted an invitation to play for the Barbarians after New Zealand coach Graham Henry opted to rest him and Canterbury team-mate Andrew Mehrtens for the All Blacks’ end-of-year tour.

Marshall will now don the famous black-and-white Baa Baas jersey against his team-mates at Twickenham on December 4.

While it was a reluctant Henry who agreed to release his veteran scrum-half, he admitted there could be some benefits in the All Blacks stalwart lining up against either Byron Kelleher or new caps Jimmy Cowan and Piri Weepu.

“This will provide an excellent challenge for whoever is chosen as All Black half-back for that match to compete against Justin - the second most capped half-back in world rugby,” said Henry.