Howard thirsty for champagne

Barbarians coach Pat Howard insists his side will stay true to their traditional attacking ethos at Murrayfield on Wednesday night, but believes Scotland will be taking things a bit more seriously as they prepare for next month's tour of South Africa.

The Leicester Tigers boss played for the Baa-Baas six times and assisted Bob Dwyer behind the scenes last year, so he knows the attacking philosophy which lies behind the historic invitational side.

The former Australia centre has 17 Test players at his disposal for the game at Murrayfield and will be hoping to make amends for last year's 38-7 loss in Aberdeen - the Baa-Baas' first defeat by the Scots.

However, he knows Scotland's forthcoming two-Test series against the Springboks will ensure the encounter is competitive.

"We have different ends of the spectrum in this Barbarians squad," he said.

"We have the likes of Will Greenwood, who has vast experience and is playing in his last game, but we also have other guys fans would really love to see on the big stage.

"It's a balance. The players don't have to worry about Test selection and impressing the coach, they can just go out there and play 'risk-free' rugby. It's a great way of being able to express yourself as a player.

"It's exactly what rugby is about. We're trying to embrace the amateur ethos of the sport, going back over 150 years or so.

"We love the idea of that and don't take it too seriously - until the whistle blows and then I'm sure the players will all put in 100 percent.

"We have a lot of guys who are hungry to impress on a bigger stage and, in the right spirit and atmosphere, I'm sure they'll do well.

"As for Scotland, Frank Hadden has done a great job and I'm sure they will have one eye on South Africa. This is a great way for them to build up."

Meanwhile, Howard has paid tribute to Greenwood, England's World Cup-winning centre, who is pulling on his boots for one last time before retiring from the game.

"Will Greenwood has been a great player for his country, has played at all the levels, and it was a very easy decision for me to make him captain in his last game," he said.

Greenwood's honour could be amplified by unhappy means - SRU chief executive Gordon McKie admits it is unlikely the Barbarians will play in Scotland again.

"We certainly won't be playing the Barbarians next year because our fixture list is congested enough as it is in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup in September 2007," he said.

"And no fixtures have been organised for 2008, but I can't see us organising a game [against the Barbarians] then either."