Line & length. Gladstone Small?
Barbarians 25 All Blacks 18
You get what you deserve when you treat a game like this as a ‘development’ match and turn up with your 2nd XV expecting to easily roll a scratch Baa Baas side.
It wasn’t always like this. The history of All Blacks v Barbarians end of tour matches goes back to 1954 and there have been many occasions since where prolific running rugby skills, commitment and elan were on display.
The match in 1973 and Gareth Edward’s ‘best ever’ try is the classic example. In the days when front rowers only scrummed, even England hooker John Pullin played his part and actually passed the ball in ‘that try’.
Sadly, in the professional era it has now become a money making venture for the NZRFU. I’m not sure there’s any point in turning up if you’re not going to put your top players on display.
Still, not a bad crowd of 65,000 turned up at HQ to watch the ‘B’ team get taught a lesson by some very talented footy players. If anybody thought this wasn’t going to be a serious match, they were mistaken, especially in the 2nd half when the Baa Baas had a sniff of victory.
Did you see the way their players and coach reacted after they won – absolutely ecstatic?
The All Black team selection for this game was obviously planned before the tour. Maybe the contract said ‘at least Richie McCaw and half a dozen First XV players’ had to be on the park at some stage – the latter duly trudged out in the last 20 minutes to meet their contractual obligation.
The All Blacks should arrange mid week fixtures like the Wallabies and Springboks instead of using iconic Baa Baas matches as cannon fodder.
The good news was that the All Black dirties entered into the spirit of the occasion and tried to play running rugby like their weekend cousins. I suppose they’re playing for their futures so it isn’t surprising they gave it a lash.
Crikey, wasn’t it a bad hair day? First up Drew ‘Schmoo’ Mitchell. What was that on his head? A dead rat? Or even Rocky Racoon? Drew……David Beckham you ain’t…..leave the hair bear stuff to Gits.
Andy Powell. He of the Messiah locks with the Cymru Dragons. Cut off, like Delilah’s Sampson…..or Tom Jones’ anyway. He’s gone and done a George!
Justin Marshall on the commentary team. Dunny brush bleached Warnie. And like Warnie, he’s way too old for that sort of look. Mate, if that’s what you have to do to pull those two birds, can’t wait to see the photos?
That was the first time I’ve heard the NZ national anthem turned into muzak, coming to an elevator near you. And as for God Save the Queen, not one Baa Baas player was singing it except maybe Nigel Owens, if he was there in an official capacity?
Didn’t Bryan Habana play well? Three tries to gain Man of the Match honours. Two of them were set up by Australian boys. The first one Schmoo scooped up in his own 22m and ran a good 30m before an overhead pass to Habana as the defence closed in. Bryan’s jet shoes did the rest.
His second try was from an intercept of a Stephen Donald cut-out pass – more on him soon. Habana went for his trade mark intercept, juggled the ball a few times and miraculously held on. He powered away from Richie McCaw to score just before the break to make it 14-20 to the Baa Baas, after Git’s conversion.
Earlier on Luke McAlister, who had a powerful game, made a great break which eventually led to Ben Smith scoring his first All Black try.
Habana’s third try was in the second half after Anthony Boric had scored for the All Blacks from a sweeping movement downfield and a TMO call. The Baa Baas were hot on attack and Gits fooled the defence for Steyn to put Habana over in the corner.
The game was generally entertaining and free flowing with the second half pretty intense. The Baa Baas were deserved winners. As for the Wallaby players, Gits was outstanding for the second week in a row. His positional kicking was exceptional and he was dangerous whenever he touched the ball.
Rocky was tireless, muscular throughout with a high workrate. George Smith was kept on for the entire match and was into everything. He effected numerous turnovers at the breakdown and created that link between forwards and backs. Disappointed I didn’t see a grubber kick though….
Schmoo Mitchell had an up and down match, doing some really good stuff mixed with a bit of indecision. Squeeky Moore came on at halftime and immediately lost his first two lineout throws. He settled down after that and worked hard.
Of the others Welshman Jamie Roberts and Jacques Fourie looked like they’d been playing together for years, and Victor and Schalk Burger were towers of strength. I also liked the look of their uncapped prop WP ‘Wilhelm Bunter’ Nel.
For the All Blacks, Stephen Donald started OK but it went downhill from there. I think he may have played his last match for the All Blacks. Richie was immense in the first half, especially when he was onside, and Corey Flynn and Rodney So’oialo were everywhere.
The Baa Baas were a scratch side, although loaded with talent. It just goes to show that cream really does rise to the top.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtOEGJNKpHw[/youtube]
Tags: andy powell, Anthony Boric, Brian Habana, Corey Flynn, drew mitchell, Gareth Edwards, george smith, Jacques Fourie, jamie roberts, John Pullin, justin marshall, luke mcalister, Mat Giteau, richie mccaw, rocky elsom, rodney so'oialo, schalk burger, Stephen Donald, stephen moore, victor matfield, WP Nel
Lance Free: A nasty, opinionated little man whose narrow views and felonious intent can only mean 'Trouble' with a capital T. Interests: dwarf throwing and robotics. Favourite Sport: mungo bashing. Does he ever have anything positive to say? 
our hookers are bloody hopeless at throwing. Victor matfield was in there the best second rower in the world and he still cant get it right. Cant be that hard to throw the ball.
On a brighter note, glad the aussies played well!
Nice headline, Can’t wait for the dozens of abusive posts from kiwis saying “We’re not arrogant.. youse lot are!”
One thing interesting about Rocky’s game was that although he wore the No 8 jumper, I noticed in the scrums it was George who actually played in the No 8 position for a fair whack of the time (until Powell came on)
Is it just me?
I just want Habana to fail. I know he’s a proven threat and is unquestionably fast, possibly the fastest.
I think it’s the body armour and the fact that he plays in the backs but rarely passes and perhaps never kicks.
I know he’s a great player but I just hate seeing him score tries, anyone with me?
that ridiculously goofy grin when he dives in for the try shits me to no end for some reason. lots of players smile, but his is different for me. otherwise i like him.
also, great to see the baa-baa’s enjoy their win that much. shows a lot of camaraderie between the blokes.
Yeah maybe it’s the smile, it’s kind of like he’s thinking “I can’t beleive I got away with that”.
I really like him. Love watching the jetshoes.
Well Habs is now part and parcel of the Stormers furniture. Cant wait to see him explode next year in a Stormers jersey. The Stormers sure will rip the defenses in 2010 with old hands like Habs, Mossie, Grant & Jantjes, Fabian Juries and exciting young talent like Duvenhage, young SA U20 & Tin Ear 10 like Lionel Cronje and the find of the 2009 CC Juan de Jongh.
and off course without Lukas Watsonia the Cape is Boer from 2010!
I love Habana and he does kick, just not often. He kicked in this game, for example.
I have even seen him chip.
when he can’t outrun someone i’ve seen him chip ahead and regather, pretty successfully too.
seeing he didn’t have a number on his back for the last try he must have changed his jersey at half time, what a princess.
I thought I was alone on this – he seems like a nice enough fella, but (and maybe because of this) he gets away with a lot in the tackle and in his kick ‘chase’ (good to see him get pinged this time). I was also surprised than no one seemed bothered when he went in with the knees in his tackle on Turner in Bris – cowardly stuff.
do you reckon gits will keep the Larkham head gear after this performance?
I wish QC was playing rather than robbing someone one schoolies.
I guess this headgear was one for the fashion gurus. Colour coordination is most important when you’re a superstar…
As for QC, well, JO’N ain’t going to be happy.
I guess it goes to show that professional sports players really are underpaid.
Habana plays offside all day. That’s how he gets those intercepts.
This match didn’t tell us anything, other than a team of first choice Wallaby-Boks can beat a team of second and third choice ABs.
Have got to take Lance Free to task. I recently sat and watched the 1973 “best game ever” and what a crock. If that was the best game ever, then it just underlies the progress made since then. Even the Queensland Reds play better rugby now days!
More to the point, professionalism has ruined the fixture. Once it was an excuse for the UK to play a Lions team at home dressed as Baa Baas. Now days it is just a money making venture. The worst part is that the Baa Baas are almost entirely made up of Southern Players. The over exposure of these guys mean we have already see too much of them, but they are the only ones available for selection.
Just as we saw at the beginning of the Test season with the Baa Baas playing in Sydney, it really was a waste of time. In retrospect it only deserved the developmental treatment Henry gave it, exactly how Deans treated it also.
I am certainly not going to bother watching it in future.
Well. Poor you. Don’t watch it then.
Henry, I think thats what I said!
You’ve got to look at the 1973 game in the context of the time. A couple of factors are:
1. This was the amateur age where fitness levels, speed and skills weren’t quite up to what they are now.
2. The Four Nations sides and the All Blacks essentially ruled the roost. South Africa were becoming blacklisted and the Wallabies were woeful.
3. The style of rugby, especially for northern hemisphere sides, involved predominantly kicking.
4. Stadium drainage wasn’t anywhere near what it is like now so the quality of fields quickly deteriorated with inclement weather – hence more kicking.
5. The rules were different and there was less encouragement to score tries. The try had recently been raised to four points. Matches were generally low scoring affairs.
6. The All Blacks game was based on rucking and forward domination. It was ten man rugby with Sid Going (the halfback) as an extra forward.
7. In that context, the six try Baa Baas game was a revelation at the time and ‘that try’ was outstanding.
I can justify yes meaning no if I put my mind to it. It was awful rugby in which the Poms surprised themselves. Face up to it Lance!
Thanks for the highlights Lance , really appreciated. Must have been history for players like Habana, Jac Fourie, M Steyn,FdP, Matfield , Bissie beating the mighty All Blacks 4 times in one calendar year. They really had put the knive deep into the old rival and I am pretty sure the Wallabies playing must be exstatic final to taste victory against them. They had the physically scras running deep after 4 losses now finally buried.
I wont say the All Blacks are arrogant, just some of their supporters posting here and just expecting victory. Like I said , first wait for the score sheet before jumping the victory wagon. Thats something I learned very quick, living in Paarl. Turn kak egg in your face.
WP Nel. His name tells his story. He isnt a rooted Tin Ear but comes like Oom Paarl from Namaqualand part of SA, Loeriesfontein, came through the Boland junior ranks, end up like most young men from that part at Maties (University of Stellenbosch), WP dont recodnise this strong hard as nail fatty and like most Maties end up with Boland and poached by the Tin Ears. Os du Randt now his forward and fatty coach give him his skills and the sad news is another Boland fatty going exactly the same root, Jean Botha also at the Tin Ears. You watch the Tin Ears scrum next year, cant go wrong with Os!
Just watched the game was very impressed with Roberts. Thought the centres looked very dangerous.
Would liked to have seen some more of the northern hemisphere players though rather than essentially a wallabies-boks team.
Intensity was great, interesting to see a baa baas game where they actually tried to win rather than just score tries.
Other than more NH players meaning a loss for the bah bahs.
Rocky, Burger and Georgy in the backrow is
what the people came to see.
Geez I can understand the complaints about the BaaBaas team and mostly the Kiwis wants NH players (they are just plain kak scared of the Bokke). The Bokke and Wallabies plays against each other all year and this matches give them time to have a few cold ones and share some thoughts and playing together.
The NH lot is simply busy with their own competitions and understandable they have priorities. The few that joined sure some credit to them, still fancy to play with some SH rugby players.
The fixture has no meaning historically with SH players dominating the Baa Baas team. Waste of time when we have all got so bored with seeing our SH players again and again and again and …….. It is this induced boredom that is killing rugby as a drawcard in this part of the world. And there we went and did it again. Yaw.
Well the game still drew 60,000 plus spectators.
Strange calling overdose SH rugby killing your part of the world.
Now we get a S15 in future and even more of it. Please tell ONeil this.
If you have lived in England and followed rugby you will know how valuable tickets to marketed games are. Usually like hens teeth. The fact that there was only 60,00 in an 80,000 stadium tells the real story.
S15 is not the problem, it is the repeat matchings of international sides that becomes boring. Going to three tests was a mistake, but we did something worse and went to four against the ABs. I just wish they had invested in getting more teams to play in the international series down here.
Well we struggle to get that amount to our autumn test against NH opposition who usually send second rate teams down south.
Had to laugh at that 5 min stop to tie up the boots at one point by Bismarck DuPlessis. He wasn’t even bothering to pretend very hard that there was something wrong with them. Had to give the europeans in the side a chance to catch their breath I guess, and recharge the flair of all involved. If that’d happened in a test match though there would’ve been moaning.