Micky Steele-Bodger, at 75 still going strong as the indefatigable Barbarian president, was adamant, however, that there had been no snub, real or imaginary.
He said: 'I am amazed and disappointed that these things are being said. It's nonsense.
The French are in the middle of their club programme and it had been indicated to us, quite strongly, that they did not wish their players to be considered.
'There are no Scots because Scotland were not enthusiastic about any of their players being invited. The squad is certainly not an insult to the French.
'Some of the best players we have had over the years have been French. I admire them enormously but we cannot play players from every country. I am very proud of the squad we have assembled.'
While Laporte gnashes his teeth, the Barbarians summoned an Irish reinforcement to their retreat in the Surrey countryside yesterday.
Peter 'The Claw' Clohessy, the Munster prop who has not always played the game in cavalier Barbarian fashion, replaces Greg Somerville.
All Black Somerville had no sooner reached London than he was flying back home to New Zealand following the death of his grandfather. However, the team to be named today will contain a heavy Southern Hemisphere flavour, in keeping with their Antipodean coaches, Bob Dwyer and John Hart.
For once, though, the Baabaas will not be observing their endearing rituals of making room for an uncapped player, an honour accorded 10 years ago to a 21-year- old flanker whose outstanding performance against an England XV at Twickenham did nothing to hasten his arrival in their ranks. Neil Back had to wait another four years for the privilege.
Another ambitious young English flanker, Leicester's Lewis Moody, had been earmarked for the uncapped berth in Cardiff before being forced to withdraw through injury. His absence reduces the English representation to Lawrence Dallaglio and Iain Balshaw.
