McCaw backs Boks to see off Lions

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McCaw is in a unique position to judge the strengths - or otherwise - of the British game with the 2009 Lions tour looming large at the end of the season.

And he admitted: "I suppose if you go on what has happened in the autumn you could pick the result pretty easily."

He added: "We played them back in 2005 and I am sure there are a few lessons learned from that trip. It is not easy for those guys to come and play at the end of a long, hard season.

"And given that John Smit is my room-mate with the Barbarians I have no choice but to say South Africa!"

McCaw and Smit - rival international and Super 14 captains - will both make their Barbarians debuts in the Olympic centenary celebration match against Australia at Wembley.

The Barbarians side has drawn from the cream of the southern hemisphere and the starting XV includes six of Smit's 2007 World Cup-winning colleagues.

With Bryan Habana and Joe Rokocoko on the wings, world player of the year Shane Williams has to settle for a place on the bench.

"This is one of the better Barbarians side there has been for a while and I am really chuffed to get this group of players together," said Jake White, who coached that victorious 2007 Springboks and is in charge of the Barbarians.

"We aim to play it in the traditional Baa-Baas' spirit and it should be a memorable occasion. It has been nice for me to be with the (players I coached at the World Cup) but it has also been nice to coach players like Richie and Joe Rokocoko."