Alastair Kellock in Barbarians squad for Australia

Kellock will be out to show he is still international class, with the World Cup approaching. Picture: TSPL

Just 24 hours after being left out of Cotter’s squad for the autumn Test series, the Glasgow skipper received a call-up by the Baa Baas for their showdown at Twickenham on 1 November.

The select team’s coach, former All Blacks giant John Kirwan, had no hesitation in summoning veteran Kellock after he was snubbed by his country. And Kellock will be out to show Cotter he is still international class, with the World Cup in England less than a year away. Also listed by Kirwan is New Zealand playmaker Colin Slade, whose stoppage-time conversion clnched last week’s 29-28 victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Slade’s reward was to be omitted from the All Blacks squad to face Scotland at BT Murrayfield next month. He has been sacrificed to enable bosses to bring back international record points scorer Dan Carter from injury.

The All Blacks have also included Sonny Bill Williams after less than a full game since his return to union following two seasons in Australia’s National Rugby League. There is also a recall for Aaron Cruden, who was suspended for two matches after missing a flight to Argentina last month following a night out.

Squad: Backs - T Nanai Williams (Chiefs), J Tuculet (Grenoble, Argentina), P Osborne (Highlanders), F Halai (Blues, New Zealand), J de Jongh (Stormers, South Africa), N Cummins (Coca Cola West Red Sparks, Australia), F Saili (Blues, New Zealand), C Slade (Crusaders, New Zealand), M Boshoff (Golden Lions, South Africa), T Cubelli (Belgrano, Argentina), S Pretorius (Cheetahs), F Tanaka (Highlanders, Japan). Forwards - C Oosthuizen (Cheetahs, South Africa), M Stevens (Sharks, England), T Du Toit (Sharks), A Ta’avao (Blues), J Parsons (Blues), M Schwalger (Chiefs, Samoa), M Rhodes (Stormers), M Alemanno (La Tablada, Argentina), D Bird (Canterbury, New Zealand), A Kellock (Glasgow, Scotland), A Thomson (Canon Eagles, New Zealand), M Todd (Crusaders, New Zealand), S Luatua (Blues, New Zealand), H Brussow (Cheetahs, South Africa), J Botes (Sharks).