A crowd of 50,000 will gather at Wembley this evening to help the Barbarians and Australia to celebrate the day in 1908 when Australia won Olympic gold in London. True, it was from a field of two - Cornwall, England's champion county, provided the sole opposition - but the match also provides a grace note to this year's packed international season.

It is only a year ago that the Baa-Baas achieved another famous result in their illustrious history, when they brought down South Africa at Twickenham, two months after the Springboks had won the World Cup. It was a wonderful day for the invitation XV, who need such high-profile matches to sustain their worldwide identity.

Jake White, who coached South Africa to the World Cup, is in charge of the Barbarians and is delighted to have a hard core of his countrymen alongside players who have so frequently been opponents, among them Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins and Joe Rokocoko. “I'm really chuffed to get these guys together,” White said. “A number of them - McCaw, John Smit, Bakkies Botha - haven't played for the Barbarians before and it's wonderful they get this opportunity.”

The same goes for the young Australians who will step out at Wembley. Several players who have been regulars this year have been rested, but James O'Connor, for one, will treasure his first start in a Wallabies jersey. O'Connor, at 18 years and 126 days, became his country's second-youngest international when he came on as a replacement against Italy last month and starts at full back.

Barbarians: P Montgomery (South Africa); J Rokocoko (New Zealand), R Gear (New Zealand), J de Villiers (South Africa), B Habana (South Africa); F Steyn (South Africa), F du Preez (South Africa); F Pucciarello (Italy), J Smit (South Africa, captain), C Johnston (Samoa), J Botha (South Africa), J Muller (South Africa), S Burger (South Africa), R McCaw (New Zealand), J Collins (New Zealand).

Australia XV: J O'Connor; L Tuqiri, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper, D Ioane; Q Cooper, B Sheehan; S Kepu, T Polota-Nau, M Dunning, M Chisholm, H McMeniman, D Mumm, G Smith (captain), R Brown.

Referee: C White (England).

Television: Live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.30pm (kick-off 7.45pm).