New Zealand’s most capped player Sam Whitelock will captain the Barbarians in his final game when they play Fiji this weekend, the invitational side said on Tuesday.
Second row Whitelock, 35, made the last of his 153 All Blacks appearances in October’s Rugby World Cup final loss and then joined French club Pau for the season.
Two-time World Cup winner Whitelock is joined in the side by leading internationals such as ex-England stars Jonny May and Kyle Sinckler as well as France centre Gael Fickou.
Former Japan hooker Shota Horie will also retire after Saturday’s game at Twickenham, having turned 38 in January.
Marcus Smith will start at fly-half for England ahead of Fin Smith against Japan on Saturday, head coach Steve Borthwick said as he announced his side two days earlier than expected.
Borthwick caught reporters off-guard on Tuesday as he named his team to face a Japan side coached by former England head coach Eddie Jones in Tokyo.
Harlequins playmaker Marcus Smith gets the nod to take the vacant number 10 shirt, with Owen Farrell ineligible after deciding to continue his club career in France and George Ford injured.
Up-and-coming Fin Smith impressed in Northampton’s thrilling win over Bath in the Premiership final earlier this month but the 22-year-old was named among the substitutes.
Borthwick said he “sensed an even greater determination and hunger than I’ve ever seen” in Marcus Smith, after the 25-year-old missed out on the Premiership championship playoffs.
