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BARBARIANS 27 - 24 TONGA

Thomond Park, Limerick - Friday 10th November 2017
KO: 19:30 HT: 15-14

THE Barbarians paid tribute to Thomond Park’s son, Axel Foley by standing in No8 formation during the World In Union anthem, before they managed to hang on in pragmatic fashion in Limerick to secure victory against a physical Tonga side, the famous club’s 22nd different international opponents.

Ultimately it was two very direct tries – lineout drives finished off by Jordi Murphy and Andy Ellis – that saw them home at Thomond Park to end the tour had seen them narrowly beaten by Australia and New Zealand on successive weekends. The Barbarians scored two more fluent first half scores through Taqele Naiyaravoro and George Bridge with Robert du Preez adding a penalty and two conversions.

Tonga were highly competitive, scoring tries from Ateli Pakalani, Fotu Lokotui to build up a 14-0 lead and then twice through Sione Vailanu in the second half.

The Pacific Islanders are England’s first-up opponents at the 2019 World Cup and showcased their direct and physical style early on. First Leicester full back Ateli Pakalani and then Counties flanker Fotu Lokotui battered their way over for a 14-0 lead to leave the Barbarians in no doubt about the size of the challenge.

The Baa-baas lost James Cronin and Nic Stirzaker to early injuries, but worked their way back into the game with a classic combination of power and skill. Naiyaravoro had impressed with two tries against Australia at the start of the tour, and he hammered his way up the left for a long-range opening try after fielding a kick-pass out wide. Bridge then finished off a fabulous passage of play involving a Richard Buckman flick and a Vince Aso offload to slide over on the right with du Preez converting to narrow the gap to two points.

The Stormers fly half edged the Barbarians in front for the first time five minutes before the break with a penalty and Naiyaravoro nearly got away again moments before half time only to be hauled down 10 metres short.

The Barbarians increased the tempo early in the second half but ended up trailing again after replacement flanker Sione Vailanu burst through some slack lineout defence. But they tightened up their game quickly with a lineout drive that saw Murphy driven over with du Preez drilling his conversion over through the swirling rain.

Du Preez kept the Tongans at arm’s length after that, sliding another fine kick into the corner, and this time it was Ellis who joined in the driving maul and emerged from under the forwards with the ball.

Tonga struck again through Vailanu two minutes from time, but the Barbarians quickly responded with Bridge and Adriaan Strauss on the attack, and the Pacific Islanders finally ran out of time.

15 George Bridge 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro 13 Richard Buckman 12 Harold Vorster 11 Vince Aso 10 Robert du Preez 9 Nic Stirzaker 8 Willie Britz 7 Simone Favaro 6 Jordi Murphy 5 Quinn Roux 4 GEOFF PARLING (C) 3 Brian Scott 2 Akker van der Merwe 1 James Cronin BENCH: 16 Adriaan Strauss 17 Jacques van Rooyen 18 Ruan Smith 19 Donncha O’Callaghan 20 John Muldoon 21 Andy Ellis 22 David Smith 23 Sam Carter

SCORERS T: Naiyaravoro, Bridge, Murphy, Ellis C: du Preez (2) P: du Preez

15 Afa Pakalani 14 David Halaifonua 13 Nafi Tu'itavake 12 Tevita Taufu’i 11 Cooper Vuna 10 Kalione Hala 9 Sonatane Takulua 8 Maama Vaipulu 7 Fotu Lokotui 6 Dan Faleafa 5 Steve Mafi 4 Leva Fifita 3 Ben Tameifuna 2 Sione Lea 1 Paea Fa'anunu BENCH: 16 Maile Ngauamo 17 Latu Talakai 18 Halani Aulika 19 OneHunga Kaufisi 20 Sione Vailanu 21 Suke Tuumotooa 22 Fetuli Paea 23 Penikolo Latu

SCORERS T: Pakalani, Lokotui, Vailanu (2) C: Takulua (2)

Referee: Frank Murphy Asst Referees: Sean Gallagher, Joy Neville

 

 

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BARBARIANS 24 - 31 NEW ZEALAND

Twickenham Stadium - Saturday 4th November 2017
KO: 15:00 HT: 17-10 Att: 62,546

HOW IT HAPPENED…

Barbarians 0-0 All Blacks We have KO at HQ this afternoon…in the grey rain…
Barbarians 5-0 All Blacks 8m A dogged start from the infamous BaaBaas & Richie Mo'unga escapes ABs defence to score
Barbarians 5-0 All Blacks 9m Mo'unga can't convert his try, though still a stunning start
Barbarians 5-0 All Blacks 12m Vaea Fifita sprints from his 22 directly into BaaBaas 22 but doesn't offload & drops ball
Barbarians 5-0 All Blacks 14m ABs captain Beauden Barrett is tied up in a blood-drawing battle, gets turned over...
Barbarians 5-0 All Blacks 14m ...and heads down the tunnel for blood, replaced by Lima Sopoaga
Barbarians 5-0 All Blacks 15m Play resumes & Crusaders fullback George Bridge scores after Steven Luatua intercepts...
Barbarians 10-0 All Blacks 16m ...in his own 22 before sprinting up to 22 & offloading to Bridge; Mo'unga can't convert
Barbarians 10-0 All Blacks 17m But ABs switch on for TJ Perenara off attacking scrum offloads to Waisake Naholo who...
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 18m ...cuts a sharp line along touch, offloading back inside before in touch for TJ to score
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 19m Ref Nigel Owens looks at all angles from TMO & confirms try but Sopoaga misses conversion
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 21m Defensive scrum for BaaBaas in own 22 & Mo'unga clears ABs back towards midfield
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 22m Beauden B returns after the claret is tidied up
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 25m ABs on the attack just over halfway but Luatua intercepts again & looks for support in ABs 22
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 26m & he finds Harold Vorster who immediately spills it forward!
Barbarians 10-5 All Blacks 28m ABs can't hold onto possession & BaaBaas secure penalty 5m from tryline; they tap & go...
Barbarians 15-5 All Blacks 29m ...keeping ball tight & not being flash but focused & composed for Sam Carter to score
Barbarians 17-5 All Blacks 30m There's really no chance for Mo'unga to miss the conversion, & he doesn't.
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 35m ABs phase-building to 9 as Naholo gets ball to Fifita to score with typical ABs smarts
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 36m Beauden B misses another conversion
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 38m Injury time off for a bit of claret then BaaBaas don't strike so lose scrum put in...
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 40m ...defensive scrum for ABs and the barely get over halfway before turnover for BaaBaas
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 40+1m Adriaan Strauss taps & he's off as BaaBaas attack into ABs territory & the 22...
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 40+2m ABs turnover ball but Beauden B knocks it on for final play of first half

Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks HT T: Mo'unga, Bridge, Carter C: Mo'unga | T: Perenara, Fifita

Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks HT It appears if you want to beat the All Blacks, you need to be a Kiwi - 10 in BaaBaas starting XV!
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks HT Very different style of BaaBaas rugby too today - not wild & expansive; rather measured

Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 43m ABs make better start with Scott Barrett almost at BaaBaas tryline but just held short...
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 45m ABs 5m scrum but BaaBaas get better of them & sprint into ABs 22 heading for the try...
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 46m ...but Naholo gets to it a fraction before Kwagga Smith & takes under posts, saving try
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 47m Nige has a look at Vorster off ball shove on Ardie Savea & goes back for ABs penalty
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 49m But BaaBaas steal possession from attacking ABs yet again at own 22 & battle...
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 50m ...for possession at the ABs 22; ABs get it away for defensive L/O as changes are made
Barbarians 17-10 All Blacks 50m Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow & Sopoaga on for Jerome Kaino, Perenara & David Havili
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 53m Smith, Franks, Britz, Drummond & Ackermann for Moli, van Rooyen, Bird, Ellis & Carter
Barbarians 17-15 All Blacks 53m ABs have regrouped well & Ngani Laumape finds the tryline from attacking scrum in BaaBaas 22
Barbarians 17-17 All Blacks 54m Beauden B can't miss this one & he doesn't to equalise
Barbarians 17-24 All Blacks 57m The All Blacks have definitely woken up as Cane scores a 4th try & Beauden converts
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 57m Patrick Tuipulotu & Tim Perry* on for Scott Barrett & Ken Hames
Barbarians 17-29 All Blacks 59m And before you can blink, Nathan Harris has breached the BaaBaas goal line for a 5th
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 61m Extras in the bag from Beauden B & no time to list the replacements!
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 64m Akker van der Merwe & Dillon Hunt for Strauss & Luatua | Scott Barrett returns for Romano
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 67m BaaBaas on the front foot & breach 22 after 9 phases, van der Merwe chips ahead but...
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 68m ...Beauden B grounds it even tho van der Merwe punches air in triumph; no try says Nige
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 69m Robert du Preez replaces Richard Buckman while Romano for Scott B
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 70m Asafo Aumua*, Toomaga-Allen & Matt Duffie* on for Harris, Tu'ungafasi & Naholo
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 72m Amazing sunset behind West Stand of raging pinks disguises damp misery & greyness of HQ
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 75m BaaBaas attacking scrum is reset outside the ABs 22 but turnover & Beauden B clears it
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 77m BaaBaas promptly make up some lost ground but ABs penalty & set scrum on opposition 10m
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 79m Both sides take an age to steady scrum before ABs get away with quick tap...
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 80m ...but the BaaBaas yet again turnover the ball deftly at the breakdown & penalty comes
Barbarians 17-31 All Blacks 80+1 BaaBaas go quickly & some delightful work allows Bridge a brace...but it's up to TMO
Barbarians 22-31 All Blacks 80+2m the entire crowd at HQ roar in disdain at possibility of no try, but it works out well
Barbarians 24-31 All Blacks 80+3m Kwagga Smith adds the extras ending a personally storming game well, awarded Killik Cup Man of  the Match
Barbarians 24-31 All Blacks FT And that's the Killik Cup collected in the Royal Box by captain Beauden Barrett

BARBARIANS: 15 George Bridge (Crusaders) 14 Julian Savea (Hurricanes & New Zealand) 13 Richard Buckman (Highlanders) 12 Harold Vorster (Lions) 11 Vince Aso (Hurricanes) 10 Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) 9 ANDY ELLIS (KOBELCO STEELERS & NEW ZEALAND C) 1 Jacques van Rooyen (Lions) 2 Adriaan Strauss (Bulls & South Africa) 3 Atu Moli (Chiefs) 4 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia) 5 Dominic Bird (Chiefs & New Zealand) 6 Steven Luatua (Bristol & New Zealand) 7 Kwagga Smith (Lions) 8 Luke Whitelock (Highlanders & New Zealand VC) BENCH: 16 Akker van der Merwe (Lions) 17 Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand) 18 Ruan Smith (Toyota Verblitz) 19 Willie Britz (Sunwolves) 20 Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester) 21 Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders) 22 Robert du Preez (Stormers) 23 Dillon Hunt (Highlanders)

SCORERS T: Mo'unga, Bridge (2), Carter C: Mo'unga, Kwagga Smith

15 David Havili 14 Waisake Naholo 13 Anton Lienert-Brown 12 Ngani Laumape 11 Seta Tamanivalu 10 BEAUDEN BARRETT (C) 9 TJ Perenara 1 Kane Hames 2 Nathan Harris 3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi 4 Luke Romano 5 Scott Barrett 6 Vaea Fifita 7 Ardie Savea 8 Jerome Kaino BENCH: 16 Asafo Aumua*17 Tim Perry*18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen 19 Patrick Tuipulotu 20 Sam Cane 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow 22 Lima Sopoaga 23 Matt Duffie*

SCORERS T: Perenara, Fifita, Laumape, Cane, Harris C: Beauden Barrett (3)

Referee: Nigel Owens Asst Referees: Nic Berry, Ben Whitehouse TMO: Rowan Kitt

 

 

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AUSTRALIA 31 - 28 BARBARIANS

Allianz Stadium, Sydney - Saturday 28th October 2017
KO: 15:00 HT: 12-21 Att: 17,021

AN inexperienced Qantas Wallabies side fought back from a nine-point half-time deficit to down the Barbarians 31-28 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

 

Trailing 21-12 at the break, the youthful Australian side ran in three second half tries to take home the spoils after the Barbarians turned on an entertaining opening forty minutes to score three tries of their own prior to the break.

The invitational side, playing in Sydney for the first time since 2009, lost Captain Quade Cooper and winger Taqele Naiyaravoro to yellow cards inside the final ten minutes after taking a 28-24 lead on a Naiyaravoro try which was set up by a Cooper cross-field kick in the 67th minute.

After Cooper was binned for a high tackle on Israel Folau, the Wallabies capitalised on their two-man advantage when Stephen Moore barged over from a rolling maul to score what would be the match-winner with seven minutes left to play.

Queensland Reds centre Duncan Paia'aua made a good fist of his opportunity in the gold number 10 jersey, crossing for a try in each half and finishing with a personal haul of 16 points.

The Alan Jones-coached Barbarians threw in some trickery midway through the first half when prop Taniela Tupou burst through on a rehearsed play and cross the line with the ball tucked under his jersey.

The try was rightfully not awarded, but that crowd-pleasing moment was the only thing light-hearted about the Barbarians performance. Several stinging hits in defence, including a bone-rattler from Wycliff Palu on young hooker Jordan Uelese in the second half, proved that the men in the black and white hooped jerseys meant business.

The Wallabies produced a more measured second half performance, and when the combinations began to take hold, the Australians finished the stronger in a close battle.

In a double blow for the Wallabies, rookie flanker Jack Dempsey and lock Lukhan Tui both exited the field in the second half with hamstring injuries.

15 Karmichael Hunt 14 Henry Speight 13 Samu Kerevi 12 Billy Meakes 11 Israel Folau 10 Duncan Paia'aua 9 NICK PHIPPS (C) 1 Tom Robertson 2 Jordan Uelese 3 Allan Alaalatoa 4 Rory Arnold 5 Lukhan Tui 6 Ned Hanigan 7 Jack Dempsey 8 Lopeti Timani BENCH: 16 Stephen Moore 17 Tetera Faulkner 18 Jermaine Ainsley 19 Kane Douglas 20 Ben McCalman 21 Joe Powell 22 Curtis Rona 23 Izaia Perese

SCORERS T: Paia'aua (2), Speight, Dempsey, Moore C: Paia'aua (3)

15 Tim Nanai-Williams (Chiefs & Samoa) 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Waratahs & Australia) 13 Tom Banks (Brumbies) 12 George Moala (Blues & New Zealand) 11 Eto Nabuli (Reds & Australia) 10 QUADE COOPER (C) (REDS & AUSTRALIA) 9 Augustine Pulu (Blues & New Zealand) 1 Pek Cowan (Force & Australia) 2 Andrew Ready (Reds) 3 Taniela Tupou (Reds) 4 Luke Jones (Bordeaux Bègles & Australia) 5 Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia) 6 Isi Naisarani (Force) 7 Matt Hodgson (Force & Australia) 8 Wycliff Palu (Toyota Verblitz & Australia) BENCH: 16 Anaru Rangi (Force) 17 Ben Alexander (Brumbies & Australia) 18 Salesi Manu (Bond) 19 Matt Philip (Force) 20 Kane Koteka (Force) 21 Theo Strang (Sydney University) 22 Sam Greene (Toyota Verblitz) 23 Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs) 24th man: Sam Ward (Warringah)

SCORERS T: Ready, Naiyaravoro (2), Banks C: Cooper (4) Naiyaravoro, Cooper

Referee: Brendon Pickerill Asst Referees: Jamie Nutbrown, James Leckie TMO: Aaron Paterson

 

 

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CLASSIC WALLABIES 24 - 27 BARBARIANS

Crozier Field, Lismore - Tuesday 24th October 2017
KO: 17:30 HT: 12-22 Att: 3,000

THE lines three-and-a-half metres up the posts told their own story: they marked the level of the flooding that engulfed Lismore earlier this year. The water has gone but the rural New South Wales community is still rebuilding and Alan Jones’s Barbarians side played their part in an entertaining rugby occasion to benefit flood relief fundraising.

A crowd of 3,000 at Crozier Field watched them share nine tries with the Classic Wallabies, who fielded veterans of the calibre of Drew Mitchell, Lote Tuqiri and Morgan Turinui in their ranks.

Brumbies full back Tom Banks and Japan-based fly half Sam Greene each scored two tries, and Force lock Richard Arnold – twin brother of the Wallabies’ Rory – galloped over to put the Baa-baas 27-12 clear early in the second half.

But the invitation side could not finish several decent chances after that and then clung on as Jock Armstrong and Byron Hutchinson scoring in the closing minutes. Tuqiri had opened the account for the Classics with Alex Gibbon also striking in the first half.

Banks showed his finishing ability down the right inside the first five minutes before Tuqiri – Australia’s World Cup final try-scorer in 2003 – profited from a superb break by Mitchell and Gibbon picked off an extravagant pass in his own half to put the Classics in front.

The Barbarians regained the lead when Arnold surged over and Banks’ second effort and Greene’s first earned a 22-12 interval lead.

Greene extended the advantage further but the Baa-baas could not hang onto the ball for long after that and lost scrum half and captain Michael Ruru to a hamstring injury.

Teenager Theo Strang – an 18 year-old just out of Scots College – was an impressive replacement, and 17 year-old Brett Wellington showed up well in the back row in the closing stages.

The Classics took advantage of handling errors and Armstrong took advantage of one midfield spill before Hutchinson’s try set up a frantic last 10 minutes.

“We made quite a few mistakes but that wasn’t my concern,” said Head Coach Alan Jones, whose side face Australia at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.

“My concern was that we really had a go with the football. We played more ball in the air than we did on the ground. There was a heap of kids here who played very, very well."

15 Drew Mitchell 14 Alex Gibbon 13 Matt Carraro 12 Morgan Turinui 11 Lote Tuqiri 10 Nick Jooste 9 Brett Sheehan 1 Conor Young 2 Adam Freier 3 Matt Gibbon 4 Jake Douglas 5 Radike Samo 6 Dave McDuling 7 AJ Gilbert 8 Pat McCutcheon BENCH: 16 Bill Johnson 17 Rory O'Connor 18 Jock Armstrong 19 Pat Phibbs 20 Clay Uyen 21 James Verity-Amm 22 Byron Hutchinson 23 Brendan Owen

SCORERS T: Banks (2), Arnold, Greene (2) C: Greene

15 Tom Banks 14 Jack Maddocks 13 Tom Connor 12 David Horwitz 11 Andrew Kellaway 10 Sam Greene 9 Michael Ruru (c) 1 Sef Fa’agase 2 Anaru Rangi 3 Salesi Manu 4 Richard Arnold 5 Matt Philip 6 Max Girdler 7 Kane Koteka 8 Sam Ward BENCH: 16 Andrew Ready 17 Pek Cowan 18 Taniela Tupou 19 Sam Carter 20 Isi Naisarani 21 Theo Strang 22 Tim Nanai-Williams 23 Brett Wellington

SCORERS T: Tuqiri, Gibbon, Armstrong, Hutchinson C: Jooste (2)

Referee: Rohan Hoffman Asst Referees: Jordan Way, Aaron Pook

 

 

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ENGLAND RUGBY† 28 - 14 BARBARIANS

Twickenham - Sunday 28th May 2017
KO: 15:00 HT: 13-0 Att: 51,636

THE Barbarians came up against an England outfit that belied the massive difference in experience between the teams to come out on top in front of more than 50,000 supporters at Twickenham.

The tens of thousands in the crowd would have headed to HQ hoping for a trademark May end-to-end shootout. This type of contest did threaten to break out on several occasions, with both sets of players showing plenty of intent to keep the ball alive, but there were too many periods of disjointed play and England’s greater structure and cohesion ultimately made the difference.

The BaaBaas’ last London outing had seen them score five highlight reel tries at Wembley Stadium, and it took only four minutes for them to show the same ambition at the city’s other iconic national stadium.

Mike Brown’s chip to the corner had seemed picture-perfect, but Alex Goode had other ideas, jinking inside the England rushers to find Timoci Nagusa on his inside. A hundred metres to go to the opposition whitewash? No problem, as the winger spotted nothing but forwards in front of him and took off.

Kahn Fotuali’i was in support, as was Adam Ashley-Cooper, the Australian coming off his wing to help out on the other side of the pitch, and it was only a high tackle on the Wallaby that ended the attack.

Three minutes later Nagusa and Goode were combining again after an over-thrown England lineout, the winger bouncing two defenders before flicking an offload that was just too low for Goode to gather, the full back knocking on over the home whitewash.

Offloads were not just the only order of the day. There was plenty of power, too, with Toulouse centre Yann David leaving one wake of white shirts after another behind his charges through midfield.

There was another sight of the England line in the 12th minute, Richard Hibbard and Thierry Dusautoir bamboozling the home pack for Fotuali’i to come through a gap. But this, too, was repelled, and with England’s defence holding firm further out the hosts came close to scoring a breakaway try, Nathan Earle denied when his attempted kick ahead came off the side of his boot and give the BaaBaas time to get back and nullify the danger.

As you would expect for a national team, England had plenty of structure in both defence and attack. But they were not afraid to emulate the BaaBaas, too, flinging long, quick lineouts and trying to keep play alive with offloads out of the tackle. And they showed superb counter-attacking ability to open the scoring after 16 minutes.

Mike Brown caught a Fotuali’i box kick to feed Jonny May, and the winger headed off on an arcing run down the right towards his support. Sam James took the attack on, and his pass inside found an unmarked Earle to cross the whitewash.

With a flick of a switch England were oozing with confidence, Danny Care sparking an attack with a quickly tapped penalty that came a forward-pass away from a second try, Sam Underhill the man denied after Earle’s ball inside went astray.

The BaaBaas put themselves in a decent position early in the second quarter, Ian Madigan finding Ashley-Cooper on the far side with a sublime chip, with Frans Steyn running the supporting line up the left touchline. But a pass from Madigan a couple of phases later went forward to the charging Hibbard, and with England clearing from the scrum – despite Fotuali’i’s best efforts at the base – and then getting the ball back against the throw from a lineout it was the hosts who had the next chance of points.

It was no surprise when England went for the uprights just before the half-hour, nor was it a shock to hear the crowd’s displeasure at the decision. Ford missed, but had a successful shot a couple of minutes later after first Steffon Armitage came off his feet and then Robbie Fruean introduced himself to Brown off the ball.

Ford had another three points to end the half for a 13-0 lead, but it was the Barbarians who opened the scoring after the break.

Ashley-Cooper’s ambition close to his own line in the opening salvos of the second half had looked a touch ill-advised as he got swamped by England shirts, but there was nothing wrong with his pace and power down the left touchline when Fruean and Goode combined to put him away. Madigan’s conversion was a peach, but with Ford accurate once again five minutes later England were able to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over, too.

Back came the Barbarians, and like Goode in the first half, Jeremy Thrush was denied a score when TMO Peter Fitzgibbon ruled that Joe Tekori had lost the ball going into contact. There was another setback when referee Andrew Brace lost patience with Mikheil Nariashvili, sending the big Georgian to the sidelines to consider his scrummaging technique for 10 minutes, and a second near-miss for England when Nagusa was just beaten to his own kick ahead over the home goal line.

Another kick, this time from Fotuali’i to Nagusa, brought a lineout close to the home line after Facundo Isa had straight trucked it through the middle of the white defence. But while this had put England under pressure, the better option in hindsight might have been going the other way to the unmarked Ashley-Cooper.

The two wingers were combining directly, and it was a shame that the rain had come when it did because any danger that the turbo-charged twosome may have had was nullified as their footing gave way in an attempted change of direction. Instead, when the ball went loose, the Barbarians made the cardinal sin of not playing to the whistle England capitalised, Nick Isiekwe being put over for the try that put the result to bed.

There were late rewards for the effort, Tekori crashing over from close range, but it was England who had the final word, Danny Care adding gloss to the scoreline with the final play of the game.

15 Mike Brown 14 Nathan Earle* 13 Sam James* 12 Alex Lozowski* 11 Jonny May 10 GEORGE FORD (CC) 9 Danny Care 1 Ellis Genge 2 Jack Singleton* 3 Will Collier 4 Charlie Ewels 5 Nick Isiekwe* 6 CHRIS ROBSHAW (CC) 7 Sam Underhill* 8 Josh Beaumont* BENCH: 16 George McGuigan* 17 Ross Harrison* 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson* 19 Tom Ellis* 20  Ben Curry* 21  Mark Wilson* 22 Richard Wigglesworth 23 Mike Haley*

SCORERS T: Earle, Isiekwe, Care C: Ford (2) P: Ford (2)

15 Alex Goode (Saracens & England) 14 Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier & Fiji) 13 Yann David (Toulouse & France) 12 Frans Steyn (Montpellier & South Africa) 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux-Begles & Australia) 10 Ian Madigan (Bordeaux-Begles & Ireland) 9 Kahn Fotuali’i (Bath Rugby & Samoa) 1 Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier & Georgia) 2 Richard Hibbard (Gloucester & Wales) 3 Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa) 4 Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina) 5 Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand) 6 THIERRY DUSAUTOIR (C) (Toulouse & France) 7 Steffon Armitage (Pau & England) 8 Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina) BENCH: 16 Schalk Brits (Saracens & South Africa) 17 Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand) 18 WP Nel (Edinburgh & Scotland) 19 Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa) 20 Gillian Galan (Toulouse) 21 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa) 22 Robbie Fruean (Bath Rugby) 23 Horacio Agulla (Castres & Argentina)

SCORERS T: Ashley-Cooper, Tekori C: Madigan (2) Nariashvili

Referee: Andrew Brace Asst Referees: John Lacey, Ben Whitehouse TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon

†This is an uncapped match

 

 

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ULSTER RUGBY 43 - 28 BARBARIANS

Twickenham - Sunday 28th May 2017
KO: 15:00 HT: 21-22 Att: 15,500

 

THE great Thierry Dusautoir led the Barbarians to a power-packed 43-28 win over Ulster in the final appearance of his glittering career. The famous invitation side scored seven tries, the last of which was converted by France’s longest-serving captain.

Fiji’s Waisea Nayacalevu and Pau prop Chris King scored two tries each, there were further touchdowns for hooker Corey Flynn and Joe Tekori, and Ulster also conceded a penalty try.

A 10,000 strong Kingspan Stadium crowd gave Montpellier-bound scrum half Ruan Pienaar a rousing send off, and local favourite Roger Wilson also brought down the curtain on his distinguished spell with the province. Ulster's young side showed plenty of promise, too, racing into a 14-0 lead through Stuart McCloskey and Mark Keane with Wilson and Pienaar adding conversions.

Debutant Callum Patterson also touched down but by the interval the Barbarians were 22-21 in front. Former All Blacks hooker Flynn drove over from a lineout, centre Nayacalevu swept over in the corner and King powered over twice from close range.

A rainy night in Belfast did not help handling but both sides tried to open up and the Barbarians - fielding at 945kg what might have been the heaviest pack in their history - had the power to open up enough space to work with. Runners like Tekori, Paul Willemse and Facundo Isa forced their way over the gain line and the pressure told with a penalty try awarded when Ulster were shoved backwards at a five metre scrum. The extra magic was supplied from an inventive old-school penalty move - the ball switched behind a wall of players - allowing Nayacalevu to score his second.

Then some midfield ingenuity opened up a giant hole which Tekori galloped through from 20 metres out, touching down under the posts to make sure Dusautoir did better than recent Barbarians retirees (Bakkies Botha the most notable) in stroking over the conversion.

Alan O’Connor had scored for Ulster immediately after the break - Paul Marshall creating the opening - and the margin would have been closer if Marshall had not spilled the ball with the line at his mercy inside the last 10 minutes.

The Barbarians missed out on their own chance to add another spectacular try to their scrapbook too. Alex Goode and David Smith combined electrically down the left on an 80 metre breakout, only for Goode’s strike to be ruled out for a high tackle in the build-up that saw Chris Masoe yellow-carded.

The former All Black - all smiles on the sideline - was one of three more greats bowing out in Belfast with Argentina lock Patricio Albacete and Ireland’s Mike Ross also receiving warm applause from an appreciative crowd.

15 Peter Nelson 14 Mark Keane 13 Callum Patterson 12 Stuart McCloskey 11 Craig Gilroy 10 Brett Herron 9 RUAN PIENAAR (CC) 1 Andy Warwick 2 Rob Herring 3 Rodney Ah You 4 Pete Browne 5 Alan O'Connor 6 Matthew Rea 7 Clive Ross 8 ROGER WILSON (CC) BENCH: 16 John Andrew 17 Kyle McCall 18 Ross Kane 19 Stephen Mulholland 20 Chris Henry 21 Paul Marshall 22 Dave Shanahan 23 Callum Smith 24 Ricky Lutton

SCORERS T: McCloskey, Keane, Patterson, O’Connor C: Wilson, Pienaar (2), Herron

15 Alex Goode (Saracens & England) 14 David Smith (Castres) 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (Stade Français & Fiji) 12 Robbie Fruean (Bath Rugby) 11 Horacio Agulla (Castres & Argentina) 10 Ian Madigan (Bordeaux Bègles  & Ireland) 9 Rory Kockott (Castres & France) 1 Chris King (Pau) 2 Corey Flynn (Star RFC & New Zealand) 3 Mike Ross (Leinster & Ireland) 4 Paul Willemse (Montpellier) 5 Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina) 6 Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa) 7 THIERRY DUSAUTOIR (C) (TOULOUSE & FRANCE) 8 Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina) BENCH: 16 Richard Hibbard (Gloucester & Wales) 17 Vincent Pelo (La Rochelle & France) 18 Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa) 19 Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand) 20 Chris Masoe (Racing & New Zealand) 21 Kahn Fotuali’i (Bath Rugby & Samoa) 22 Brock James (La Rochelle) 23  Jean-Marcellin Buttin (Bordeaux-Bègles & France)

SCORERS T: Flynn, Nayacalevu (2), King (2), PT, Tekori C: Agulla, Madigan (2), Dusautoir Masoe

Referee: Ben Whitehouse Asst Referees: David Wilkinson, Jonny Erskine TMO: Simon McDowell

 

 

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BARBARIANS 31 - 49 ARGENTINA

Twickenham - Saturday 21st November 2015
KO: 15:05 HT: 12-28 Att: 38,101

THE Barbarians summoned up the spirit of 1890 to help celebrate their 125th anniversary at Twickenham. Barbarians players from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa posed for images this week that echo an 1890s portrait of the famous invitation club's founder William Percy Carpmael.

Wallabies captain Moore was the star of the show with a Victorian moustache that puts him into the period perfectly.

* * * * * * *

BEFORE the historic match kicked off, a spectacular 125th Anniversary Lunch in Twickenham's prestigious Spirit of Rugby suite was held where more Barbarians legends than one could possibly count were in attendance. In the presence of the Presidents of all four home Rugby Unions and the President of Rugby Americas, World Rugby Executive Committee member and former Pumas captain, Agustin Pichot, stories were regaled by the likes of Derek Quinnell, JPR Williams, Gavin Hastings, Roger Uttley and the illustrious Sir Gareth Edwards, chaperoned in marvellous fashion by the President of Barbarians FC, the inimitable Mickey Steele-Bodger who still boasts both charm and wit at the grand old age of 90!

The Barbarians and Argentina served up a fitting celebration of the famous invitation club’s 125th anniversary by sharing 12 tries at Twickenham, and the guests enjoyed 80 minutes of entertainment as both sides impressed in attack with World Cup semi finalists Argentina winning with a try-count of 7-5.

Wing Santiago Cordero - a Barbarian two years ago - touched down twice for the Pumas with Facundo Isa, Ramiro Moyano, Martin Landajo, Jeronimo de la Fuente and Nicolas Sanchez scoring their tries. Sanchez (6) and Emiliano Bofelli were immaculate from the kicking tee.

Michael Cheika’s Barbarians opened the scoring through Tevita Kuridrani with Waisake Naholo, Joe Tomane, Nemani Nadolo and captain Victor Matfield scoring. Nadolo (2) and Sopoaga kicked the conversions.

The final extra point attempt came from an unlikely source; Springbok giant Bakkies Botha was unsuccessful in his final act as a player after a rich career that saw him win 85 caps, a World Cup, Currie Cups, Super Rugby titles, the European Cup and the French Top 14.

The plan was for him to swap places with long-time partner but Victor Matfield persuaded his coach to let him stay on the field to pack down with his old mate one last time.

The Barbarians had brought together a squad of Southern Hemisphere stars including half-a-dozen World Cup finalists and a pack including South African heavyweights Matfield, Botha and young Lood de Jager.

Kuridrani opened the scoring after Sopoaga’s neat chip but the Pumas hit back with three scores of their own. Isa powered over from close range before Cordero scored his first, then laid on the third try for Moyano after the attacking Barbarians lost the ball.

Naholo fielded Sopoaga’s cross kick and stepped past onrushing defenders to narrow the gap but the Barbarians lost the ball just before the break and saw Cordero grab his second.

They stretched the lead again when Landajo and de la Fuente finished more attacks from deep but Tomane responded with a long break down the left and Fijian wing Nadolo closed the gap.

Sanchez eased any prospects of a late comeback by running back a loose offload but the Barbarians saved the best to last with a sustained attack that ended with Matfield’s try and Botha’s final act.

HIGHLIGHTS

15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes & NZ) 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders & NZ) 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies & Australia) 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders & NZ) 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders & Fiji) 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders & NZ) 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow (Chiefs & NZ) 1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks) 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies & Australia) 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues & NZ) 4 Lood de Jager (Cheetahs & SA) 5 VICTOR MATFIELD (NORTHAMPTON SAINTS & SA) (C) 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies & Australia) 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) 8 Stephen Hoiles (Waratahs & Australia) BENCH from: James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels & Australia) Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs & NZ)  Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels & Australia) Bakkies Botha (SA) Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) Cobus Reinach (Sharks & SA) Pat Lambie (Sharks & SA) Francois Venter (Cheetahs) Joe Tomane (Brumbies & Australia)

SCORERS T: Kuridrani, Naholo, Tomane, Nadolo, Matfield C: Sopoaga, Nadolo (2)

15 Ramiro Moyano 14 Matías Moroni 13 Jerónimo De la Fuente 12 Santiago González Iglesias 11 Santiago Cordero 10 Nicolás Sánchez 9 MARTÍN LANDAJO (C) 8 Facundo Isa 7 Javier Ortega Desio 6 Pablo Matera 5 Matías Alemanno 4 Guido Petti 3 Ramiro Herrera 2 Julián Montoya 1 Lucas NogueraBENCH: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez 17 Santiago García Botta 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 19 Tomas Lezana 20 Leonardo Senatore 21 Felipe Ezcurra 22 Gabriel Ascarate 23 Emiliano Boffelli

SCORERS T: Isa, Cordero (2), Moyano Joya, Landajo, de la Fuenta, Sanchez C: Sanchez (6), Boffelli

Referee: JP Doyle (IRFU)

 

 

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GLOUCESTER RUGBY 14 - 62 BARBARIANS

Kingsholm - Tuesday 17th November 2015
KO: 19:45 HT: 7-31 Att: 8,087

A star-studded Barbarians side lit up Kingsholm with a performance full of attacking accuracy to score 10 tries against Gloucester.

Michael Cheika’s side warmed up for their date with Argentina at Twickenham by making light of the storm-force conditions in the Westcountry.

 

There was a brace of tries from Wallabies wing Joe Tomane with the rest shared by Fiji’s Nemani Nadolo, All Blacks Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ryan Crotty and Waisake Naholo, South Africa’s Lood de Jager and Pat Lambie, and uncapped New Zealander Ardie Savea.

Gloucester stayed in touch with a Dan Thomas burst from 20 metres, their scrummaging resulted in a sinbinning for New Zealand prop Jamie Mackintosh and they forced a penalty try in the closing moments.

There was a big gulf in the experience between these sides, with the Barbarians scratch outfit totalling 573 international caps between them against a young home side with a mix of youngsters plus a few old heads like veteran prop Nick Wood.

Gloucester were tenacious throughout, though, particularly at the set pieces, but the cutting edge in the Barbarians stellar back line - with South Africa’s Lambie pulling the strings and Milner-Skudder, Tomane, Nadolo and Co running riot - was irresistible.

When Cheika unloaded his bench in the second half - bringing on the likes of New Zealand’s Naholo, Australia captain Stephen Moore and South Africa legend Bakkies Botha - you get an idea of the riches at his disposal.

Fiji wing Nadolo opened the scoring by barging over on the left before Gloucester were briefly in front when Thomas stole the ball to score and saw his effort converted by Lloyd Evans.

Milner-Skudder - the opening try-scorer in the World Cup final - breezed over for the second and Tomane scored twice in quick succession before Gloucester’s best spell saw them win a string of scrum penalties with Mackintosh ordered off by referee Dean Richards as a result.

However, the Barbarians scored again before the break through Crotty to open up a 31-7 lead with Lambie converting two of the five first half scores into the howling wind.

Gloucester lost No.8 Lewis Ludlow to the sin bin early in the second half, the cue for four more Barbarians tries in an 18-minute spell from De Jager, Savea, and replacements Naholo and Kerr-Barlow.

The Cherry and Whites rallied once more - setting up the position for a drive to the line and awarded a penalty try five minutes from time when their driving maul was pulled down.

But the Barbarians had the last word when Tomane broke out once more and Lambie followed up to touch down their final try with flanker Savea supplying the conversion.

Mat Protheroe, Harry Robinson, Olly Thorley, Tim Molenaar, Steph Reynolds, Lloyd Evans, Ben Vellacott, NICK WOOD (C), Darren Dawidiuk, Nicky Thomas, Joe Latta, Tom Hicks, Elliott Stooke, Dan Thomas, Lewis Ludlow BENCH: Henry Walker, Dan Murphy, Josh McNulty, Alex Craig, Will Safe, Harry Randall, Jack Spencer, Jack Evans

SCORERS T: Dan Thomas, PT C: Lloyd Evans (2) Ludlow

15 Nehe Milner Skudder (Hurricanes & NZ) 14 Joe Tomane (Brumbies & Australia) 13 Francois Venter (Cheetahs) 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders & NZ, vice captain) 11 Nemani  Nadolo (Crusaders & Fiji) 10 Pat Lambie (Sharks & SA) 9 Cobus Reinach (Sharks & SA) 1 Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs & NZ) 2 James Hanson (Reds & Australia) 3 Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels & Australia) 4 VICTOR MATFIELD (NORTHAMPTON SAINTS & S) (C) 5 Lood de Jager (Cheetahs & SA) 6 Stephen Hoiles (Waratahs & Australia) 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) 8 Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) BENCH: Stephen Moore (Brumbies & Australia, vice captain) Thomas du Toit (Sharks) Charlie Faumuina (Blues & NZ) Bakkies Botha (SA) Scott Fardy (Brumbies & Australia) Tawera Kerr Barlow (Chiefs & NZ) Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders & NZ) Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies & Australia) Waisake Naholo (Highlanders & NZ)

SCORERS T: Nadolo, Milner-Skudder, Tomane (2), Crotty, de Jager, Savea, Naholo, Kerr-Barlow, Lambie C: Lambie (4), Sopoaga, Savea Mackintosh

Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)

 

 

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ENGLAND XV 73 - 12 BARBARIANS

Twickenham - Sunday 31st May 2015
KO: 15:00 BST HT: 45-5 Att: 34,667

HOW IT HAPPENED MINUTE BY MINUTE…

Team line ups for England Rugby v Barbarians...KO in 10 minutes & we're live from Twickenham
England v Barbarians It's anthem time at Twickenham...
England 0-0 Barbarians 1m We have KO and frankly it's a miserable day here at HQ
England 0-0 Barbarians 3m Barbarians have to first significant penalty & opt for a scrum on England's 22
England 0-0 Barbarians 5m England do well to force BaaBaas right back up to halfway
England 0-0 Barbarians 7m All a tad tedious so far...England win penalty on their 10m & thump it away for 5m lineout
England 0-0 Barbarians 9m lineout is good but all end up in a heap 2m out before BaaBaas clear...
England 0-0 Barbarians 12m A/V problems finally sorted in press room & we finally have picture & sound!
England 7-0 Barbarians 12m Meanwhile Marland Yarde finds the space to sneak over for the try & Danny Cipriani converts
England 7-5 Barbarians 14m BaaBaas  with a try from All Blacks stalwart & captain, Brad Thorn but no conversion
England 7-5 Barbarians 16m Thorn then becomes the bad guy, collapsing the maul and handing a penalty to England
England 10-5 Barbarians 18m Cips tees up & deftly adds 3  points to stretch the lead
England 10-5 Barbarians 20m Thomas Waldrom messes around off the ball & is promptly dismissed to the bin
England 15-5 Barbarians 20m England take advantage & from an excellent driving maul bulldoze over for Ed Slater to score
England 17-5 Barbarians 22m Cips adds the extras & this England side aren't looking too shabby...
England 17-5 Barbarians 27m England make some sharp yards into BaaBaas 22; forced to recycle & Wade catches awkward pass...
England 22-5 Barbarians 28m ...in corner but shut down; go again & Jack Clifford is allowed to saunter over to touch down
England 24-5 Barbarians 29m Conversion from Cips; methinks the BaaBaas may have indulged in the spirit too much!
England 29-5 Barbarians 31m England forced out wide in attack but a smart chip thru from Yarde collected by Wade to score
England 31-5 Barbarians 32m And another conversion from Cips. England have been practising running their lines well!
England 36-5 Barbarians 34m Yarde shut down mid-flight but offloads brilliantly to Wade who cuts a line to score again!
England 38-5 Barbarians 34m Cips clocks up his tally to 13, & was responsible for Yarde getting hands on ball too
England 38-5 Barbarians 36m You wouldn't know BaaBaas have had 58% possession & territory so far with this scoreline
England 43-5 Barbarians 38m Super hands all round for England & Wade offloads to Cips when he can't get thru & scores too
England 45-5 Barbarians 39m Cips obviously convert his own try, & Stu L was right in interview earlier...
England 45-5 Barbarians 40m ...when he said this is England's 1st RWC warm up match.

England 45-5 Barbarians HT T: Yarde, Slater, Clifford, Wade (2), Cipriani C: Cipriani (6) P: Cipriani | T: Thorn Waldrom

England 45-5 Barbarians HT An absolute mystery at Twickers...why does Simon Ward have to shout when he's got a mic @EnglandRugby?
England 45-5 Barbarians HT Biggest ever BaaBaas defeat was by British Lions 59-8 thumping them in Hong Kong in 2013
England 52-5 Barbarians 42m England start as they left off - Ed Slater thru for try no. 7 & Cips converts
England 52-5 Barbarians 43m BaaBaas changes: Fourie, Jones, Tejerizo & Matera on for Ward, Diaz, Taumoepeau & Whitelock
England 52-5 Barbarians 45m Well well, BaaBaas are threatening the England 22...
England 52-5 Barbarians 47m Don't get v far tho as Yarde gets hands on ball & clears for BaaBaas 10m lineout
England 52-5 Barbarians 48m BaaBaas come back & Waldrom rolls over tryline > TMO to confirm no knock on...
England 52-12 Barbarians 49m It's a Waldrom try given eventually, Tusi Pisi converts while changes happen on both sides...
England 52-12 Barbarians 50m Taylor, Waller, Gaskell for Cowan-Dickie, Mullan, Launchbury & Fujita for Aplon
England 52-12 Barbarians 51m Meanwhile, Wade thinks he's sauntered in behind uprights for 8th try...but... TMO
England 52-12 Barbarians 51m On reflection, Wade actually drops ball in the process of touchdown with not a defender close!
England 52-12 Barbarians 55m Brett's on for Olivier, and Geraghty for Tait; Cips moves to fullback
England 52-12 Barbarians 58m BaaBaas gets close to England 22 again, but Cips make sure he repels them right back to halfway
England 52-12 Barbarians 58m England back into BaaBaas territory but pinged for holding on at breakdown at 10m
England 52-12 Barbarians 59m Doesn't take long for penalty to be reversed & England are back in control...
England 57-12 Barbarians 60m Sublime offload thru the legs from Geraghty to Josh Beaumont who scores neatly as Dad Bill beams
England 59-12 Barbarians 61m Another conversion from Cips & the record is broken for most points against the BaaBaas
England 59-12 Barbarians 64m Will Chudley's on for Dicko & England have a defensive scrum in their 22
England 59-12 Barbarians 66m Tomás Cubelli tries to shove Chudley away & penalty goes to England
England 59-12 Barbarians 66m England lineout on their 10m; won but not gained any ground yet...
England 59-12 Barbarians 70m All getting a little tedious now...everyone's bored in the press room already!
England 59-12 Barbarians 73m Turnovers flying both ways but no one making serious ground...
England 59-12 Barbarians 74m BaaBaas try & stop Wade from scoring in corner, take him down but ball rolls fwd & touchdown
England 64-12 Barbarians 74m Ref goes up to TMO which clearly shows a good try - hat-trick in the bag
England 66-12 Barbarians 76m Cips converts his 9th try & earns the Man of the Match award
England 66-12 Barbarians 78m Ruan Pienaar replaced Cubelli a while back...& England are back into BaaBaas 22...
England 71-12 Barbarians 79m Meanwhile, Cips picks up & almost swan dives over for a brace!
England 73-12 Barbarians 80m 10 tries for England, 10 conversions for Cips, and a resounding win all round
England 73-12 Barbarians That was a hell of a spanking for BaaBaas - & they beat a v strong Ireland side on Thursday!

15 Mathew Tait 14 Christian Wade 13 Elliot Daly 12 Henry Slade 11 Marland Yarde 10 Danny Cipriani 9 LEE DICKSON (C) 1 Matt Mullan 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie 3 Kieran Brookes 4 Ed Slater 5 Joe Launchbury 6 Mark Wilson 7 Jack Clifford 8 Josh Beaumont BENCH: 16 Tommy Taylor 17 Alex Waller 18 Gareth Denman 19 James Gaskell 20 Jon Fisher 21 Will Chudley 22 Shane Geraghty 23 Alex Lewington

SCORERS T: Yarde, Slater, Clifford, Wade (3), Cipriani (2), Slade, Beaumont C: Cipriani (10) P: Cipriani

15 Gio Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa) 14 David Smith (Toulon) 13 Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand) 12 Wynand Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa) 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins & England) 10 Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath & Samoa) 9 Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Ath & Argentina) 1 Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand) 2 David Ward (Harlequins) 3 Matias Diaz (Pampas & Argentina) 4 Samu Manoa (Northampton Saints and USA) 5 BRAD THORN (Leicester Tigers & New Zealand, C) 6 George Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights & New Zealand) 7 George Smith (Lyon & Australia) 8 Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs & England) BENCH: 16 Deon Fourie (Lyon) 17 Roberto Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina) 18 Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales) 19 Nathan Hines (Sale Sharks & Scotland) 20 Pablo Matera (Pampas & Argentina) 21 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa) 22 Stephen Brett (Lyon) 23 Yoshi Fujita (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan)

SCORERS T: Thorn, Waldrom Waldrom, Thorn

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU) Asst Referees: Luke Pearce (RFU), Paul Dix (RFU)  TMO: Sean Davey (RFU)

 

 

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IRELAND XV 21 - 22 BARBARIANS

Thomond Park - Thursday 28th May 2015
KO: 19:45 HT: 7-5

ALEX CUTHBERT scored two tries and Zane Kirchner provided a stunning solo effort as the Barbarians recorded their fourth successive win over Ireland on Irish soil.

The Barbarians’ performance was one of real substance, with their traditional attacking flair mixed in with tenacious defending and a ferocious battle at the breakdown.

Craig Gilroy, Chris Henry and Paddy Jackson all struck for Ireland from close range but their final try came too late for them to overhaul the famous invitation side.

Former Ireland flanker Shane Jennings led a side with 466 caps in its starting line-up against many of his Leinster teammates.

And the Barbarians got off to a fluent start with Wales wing Cuthbert - lively throughout the first half - going over in the corner after David Smith had switched sides and drawn in two defenders.

Toulon wing Smith was a threat throughout in the invitation side’s best early attacks but they had to soak up lots of pressure in the opening quarter.

One long spell - of lineouts and close-range scrums - ended when Gilroy cut his way through after 16 minutes with Ian Madigan converting.

But neither side could get over the line after that before the break with the Barbarians relying on some important turnovers and solid defending against Ireland’s driving mauls.

Both sides lost men to the sin bin before the break, Ireland’s Jack McGrath and the Barbarians Roberto Tejerizo both yellow carded by referee Greg Garner.

Kirchner, though, seized the initiative immediately after the interval with a superb strike, cutting in from the right and chipping over Dave Kearney to score with Gopperth converting.

The try came during a breathless spell of Barbarians dominance that eventually enabled Gopperth to land a key penalty that stretched the lead to 15-7 after 55 minutes.

Ireland were back in it on the hour mark with a successful driving maul as Ulster’s Chris Henry was driven over and Madigan converted to make it a one-point game.

But the Barbarians were more hard nosed in the spell that followed with Australia flanker George Smith coming off the bench and influential at the breakdown before they drove close to the line and hammered away with giant wing Cuthbert joining in to smash his way over.

Ireland stormed back with Paddy Jackson scoring their third try and the conversion leaving them trailing by a point but only one more play was possible before the Barbarians kicked the ball off to secure the win.

Hooker Deon Fourie picked up the man of the match award for his tireless work in the loose with the likes of Joe Rokocoko - endlessly influential in midfield - not far behind.

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Colm O'Shea (Clontarf/Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ballymena/Ulster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster), Richardt Strauss (Old Wesley/Leinster), Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster), Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) (capt)

Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) for Strauss 54, Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster) for Reddan 62, Cian Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster) for O’Shea 74, Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) for Marshall 50, Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) for Furlong 62, Ben Marshall (Old Belvedere/Connacht) for Tuohy 62, Michael Bent (Dublin University/Leinster) for Diack 40,

SCORERS T: Gilroy, Henry, Jackson C: Madigan (3) YC McGrath

Zane Kirchner (Leinster & South Africa), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues & Wales), Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa), David Smith (Toulon), James Gopperth (Leinster), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Roberto Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina), Deon Fourie (Lyon), Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales), Rodrigo Capo Ortega (Castres & Uruguay), Konstantin Mikautadze (Toulon & Georgia), Shane Jennings (Leinster & Ireland, Captain), Gerhard Vosloo (Toulon), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan)

Replacements: Nathan Hines (Sale Sharks & Scotland) for Ortega 7, Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand) for Vosloo 47-50, for Tejerizo 57, George Smith (Lyon & Australia) for Holani 50, Gio Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa) for Rokocoko 61, David Ward (Harlequins) for Fourie 79

SCORERS T: Cuthbert (2), Kirchner C: Gopperth (2) P: Gopperth YC Tejerizo

Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)

 

 

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ENGLAND 29 - 39 BARBARIANS

Twickenham - Sunday 1st June 2014
KO: 15:00 HT: 18-14

HIGHLIGHTS

HOSEA GEAR struck twice in the second half as the Barbarians clinched a memorable win over a young inexperienced England side at Twickenham.

Benson Stanley and Juan Martin Hernandez struck in the first half with Mamuka Gorgodze powering to the line immediately after the interval. While the back line talents of the likes of Gear and centre Rene Ranger were highlighted, Head Coach Dean Ryan paid tribute to the forwards who enabled them to function so effectively.

Dave Ewers, Charlie Sharples and Henry Slade all scored tries for England before Gear’s two sublime long-range efforts earned the Barbarians their first win in this fixture since 2011 to level the series between the sides at seven wins apiece.

Zimbabwe-born Ewers started proceedings by pounding through the Baa-Baas' fringe defence for the game's first try.

But Stanley crossed after a smart pass exchange with outside centre Ranger, Brock James converting to level the scores.

An Elliot Daly penalty edged England 10-7 up and Ollie Devoto’s smart kick put Sharples in for the second try.

But James’s superb crosskick to Gear ended in Hernandez cantering over and the Barbarians trailed by just four points at the interval at 18-14 down.

Gorgodze - nicknamed Gorgodzilla by Top 14 fans in France - powered his way over with the score confirmed by the TMO at the start of the second half, James converting and adding penalty for a 24-18 lead.

Back came England down the right with Slade wriggling over but the Exeter Chiefs fly half was unable to convert and Francois Trinh-Duc then traded penalties with him going into the final quarter.

The Baa-Baas punished England immediately, Gear outstripping Daly to romp home, with Trinh-Duc converting for a 34-26 advantage.

Slade cut the Barbarians' lead to five points with his third penalty of the afternoon but, as England searched for a route back into the contest, the visitors struck again, Gear stealing his second stylish try.

15 Elliot Daly (London Wasps) 14 Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath & Army)  13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath  Rugby) 12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)  11 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester)  10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 9 Joe Simpson (London Wasps) 1 Ross Harrison  (Sale Sharks)  2 Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)  3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)  4 Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks)  5 GRAHAM KITCHENER (LEICESTER TIGERS) (C) 6 Jamie Gibson (Leicester Tigers)  7 Luke Wallace (Harlequins)  8 Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)  BENCH: 16 Tommy Taylor (Sale Sharks) 17 Fraser Balmain (Leicester Tigers) 18 Will Collier (Harlequins) 19 Charlie Matthews (Harlequins) 20 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks) 21 Dan Robson (Gloucester) 22 Ollie Devoto (Bath) 23 Rob Miller (Sale Sharks)

SCORERS T: Ewers, Sharples, Slade C: Slade P: Daly, Slade (3)

15 Juan Martin Hernandez (Racing Métro & Pumas) 14 Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & NZ) 13 Rene Ranger (Montpellier & NZ) 12 Benson Stanley (Clermont & NZ)  11 Hosea Gear (Toulouse & NZ) 10 Brock James (Clermont) 9 Jimmy Cowan (Gloucester & NZ) 1 Sona Taumalolo (Perpignan & Tonga) 2 Ti‘i Paulo (Clermont & Samoa) 3 Davit Kubriashvili (Stade Français & Georgia) 4 Donncha O’Callaghan (Munster & Ireland) 5 Juandré Kruger (Racing Métro & SA) 6 JUAN MANUEL LEGUIZAMÓN (LYON & PUMAS) (C) 7 Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont & France) 8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier & Georgia) BENCH: 16 Andrew Hore (Maniototo & NZ) 17 Julien Brugnaut (Racing Métro & France) 18 Nahuel Lobo (Montpellier & Pumas) 19 Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa) 20 Roger Wilson (Ulster & Ireland) 21 Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano & Pumas) 22 Francois Trinh-Duc (Montpellier & France) 23 Anthony Tuitavake (Montpellier & NZ)

SCORERS T: Stanley, Hernandez, Gorgodze, Gear (2) C: James (3), Trinh-Duc P: James, Trinh-Duc

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR) Asst Referees: Neil Hennessey (WRU), Ben Whitehouse (WRU) TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

* * * * * * *

 

 

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BARBARIANS 59 - 8 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

Hong Kong Stadium, HK - Saturday 1 June 2013
KO: 19:30*/12:30 BST HT: 3-23 Att: 28,643

HIGHLIGHTS

THE British and Irish Lions got their 2013 tour off to a roaring start after thumping the already wounded Barbarians side.

Sweat poured down the faces of players in the glorious Hong Kong sun with 90% humidity. Thousands of Lions and Barbarians fans packed into the wondrous stadium and waited in extreme anticipation for what was to be a thrilling game between two of the most iconic sides in rugby. Dramatic music thundered around the enclosed stadium as the temporary captain, Paul O’Connell, led out the new-look British and Irish side, whilst carrying the infamous stuffed lion.  Fireworks zoomed from the pitch as both teams placed their first footsteps onto the lush green grass, and fireworks of a different sort continued throughout the following 80 minutes.

After a delayed start, due to the Lions team being caught in traffic, a quick rendition of the Chinese national anthem serenaded the visiting crowd, as all the players stood shoulder to shoulder to formalise the occasion. Once the flags and extra players had left the pitch, and under the watchful eye of referee Steve Walsh, the match got underway.

At a first glance, it looked as if the Barbarians may have been in for another bashing as they gave away penalty after penalty, and only three minutes into the game Owen Farrell had knocked over the first points of the match 0-3. The humidity of the stadium not only made players fumble the ball, it also made heads hotter than usual. Usually playing for the same side, Schalk Brits and Farrell came to blows at the foot of a ruck. Brits delivered the first hit and was sin-binned for being the instigator, Farrell had punched back and was lucky not to have joined his Saracens teammate in the bin.

Seven minutes after the ruckus was formed, Farrell was handed another shot at goal, but he was visibly still wound up from his clash with Brits and missed the penalty. Moments later, the immense figure of Elliot Daly teed up a titanic penalty kick at goal. His kick from 49 metres away, sailed through the posts to make the scores level 3-3.

As the game reached the first quarter mark and after much time had been spent in the Barbarians’ 22, Farrell teed up once again and unlike his last kick, this one glided through the posts for the Lions to take the lead 3-6. The score did not stay the same for long as in the 26th minute the dangerously strong, Mike Phillips, looked to have been over but was just short. Moments later, however, Captain O’Connell was over for the first try of the match. Farrell booted over the conversion whilst O’Connell celebrated his try in the blood bin 3-13.

Farrell’s boot appeared to be in high demand as seconds after his first conversion, he was back teeing up to convert Mike Phillips’ eagerly awaited try, which he did successfully 3-20. As the first half reached its dying embers, Farrell’s boot was called for, for one last time. Despite Stuart Hogg looking hungry to have a kick at goal, Farrell took the last penalty of the half and secured the final points before the break 3-23.

Nothing had changed over half time. The atmosphere was still as wild and exuberant and Mike Phillips was still playing the game of his life as he pounced over the line, looking unstoppable, only two minutes into the second half. Farrell sunk the conversion over and it was beginning to look likely that Sir Ian McGeechan would get the 30 point score margin he was hoping for 3-30.

Up to the 54th minute mark, the majority of the game was going the Lions’ way. The Barbarians were being pinged left, right and centre and their scrum was crumbling under the heavy pressure of the Lions’ roar. However, just when it seemed that the sun was only shining on red shirted players, the immense back, Joe Rokocoko, came to life and sped downfield, bruising his way into the Lions’ 22, something the Barbarians had rarely done up until that point. A swift pass from the All-Black legend saw Kahn Fotuali’i zoom over the line to score the Barbarians’ much needed first try of the game. Nick Evans missed the conversion but the fans were booming as Delilah chorused around the stadium 8-30.

The Barbarians’ points gain did not last long and as the game edged closer to its final quarter, the Lions were back, snarling and baring their teeth in the Barbarians’ 22. An interception from Man of the 2009 Lions Series, Jamie Roberts, handed Welsh teammate Jonathan Davies a well-earned try. Jonathan Sexton took over the kicking duty and thumped the conversion through 8-37.

Roberts’ role in scoring did not finish with the Davies try as the centre also set up another Welsh teammate, Alex Cuthbert, to pelt down the left blindside to score try number five. Sexton just missed the conversion, but Lions fans did not mind as they revelled in the try celebrations 8-42.

Sexton did not have long to wait before getting another chance to add to the Lions’ cause. Two minutes after Cuthbert scored his first try for the Lions, he thundered over the line for his second try of the match with a little help from George North and Conor Murray. Sexton abysmally missed another conversion but the Lions were reigning supreme 8-47.

Hungry for even more points to get Warren Gatland’s attention, the Lions went on the prowl once again as the Barbarians hopelessly tried to hold the red jerseys back. As they went through the phases and were handed an advantage, it seemed inevitable that Gatland’s tenacious young guns would get another score before the final whistle. In the 74th minute, Dan Lydiate paced over for the line for the inevitable try, which Sexton converted 8-54.

As the clock ticked down, everyone thought Lydiate would have the last try of the match. They were all wrong. In a desperate last gasp run, the mighty Alun Wyn Jones rammed his way over the try-line to add insult to injury to the Barbarians. Sexton woefully missed the conversion but the Lions had already won the game, the respect from other members of their pride, and the hearts of their fans as the match finished 8-59.

It was not a complete walkover like the England game, so there are positives for the Barbarians to take away from the match. However, the victors, the British and Irish Lions, have a much desired first win to their summer tour as they prepare to go down under.

15 Jared Payne 14 Joe Rokocoko 13 Elliot Daly 12 Casey Laulala 11 Takudzwa Ngwenya 10 Nick Evans 9 Dimitri Yachvili 1 Paul James 2 Schalk Brits 3 Martin Castrogiovanni 4 Marco Wentzel 5 Dean Mumm 6 Samu Manoa 7 Sam Jones 8 SERGIO PARISSE (C) BENCH: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini 17 Duncan Jones 18 Andrea Lo Cicero 19 Jim Hamilton 20 Imanol Harinordoquy 21 Kahn Fotuali'i 22 James Hook 23 Mike Tindall*/Rowan Varty

SCORERS T: Fotuali'i P: Daly Brits

15 Stuart Hogg 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Jonathan Davies 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Sean Maitland 10 Owen Farrell 9 Mike Phillips 1 Mako Vunipola 2 Richard Hibbard 3 Adam Jones 4 Richie Gray 5 PAUL O’CONNELL (C) 6 Dan Lydiate 7 Justin Tipuric 8 Toby Faletau BENCH: 16 Tom Youngs 17 Cian Healy 18 Matt Stevens 19 Alun Wyn Jones 20 Jamie Heaslip 21 Conor Murray 22 Johnny Sexton 23 George North

SCORERS T: O'Connell, Phillips (2), Davies, Cuthbert (2), Lydiate, AW Jones C: Farrell (3), Sexton (2) P: Farrell (3)

Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU)

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Click here for British & Irish Lions Tour 2013

 

 

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ENGLAND 40 - 12 BARBARIANS

Twickenham - Sunday 26th May 2013
KO: 13:00 HT: 16-0 Att: 60,601

ENGLAND tenaciously beat the unconvincing Barbarians side in the first of their summer fixtures.

Twickenham was not filled to capacity but had attracted a much larger crowd than in recent years. As fans packed into the first two tiers, anthems shrouded the expectant atmosphere. England were without many of their experienced international players either rested or with the Lions Tour party, and the Barbarians had only trained twice together, so many in the stadium were unsure as to who was going to win this nail-biting fixture.

The sun’s light dazzled down onto the pitch as the sound of a single heartbeat echoed its way around the stands. A silence befell Twickenham and then the greatly anticipated match kicked off. Looking to impress, Marland Yarde thundered forwards and within seconds, had made his way into the Barbarians 22. With Freddie Burns in support and a swift pass from Yarde, England began their onslaught with a try in the first minute. Burns hastily added the conversion to his own try and the England youngsters had got off to a soaring start 7-0.

‘Swing Low’ began to reverberate around Twickenham as the game was restarted, and the fans’ vocals appeared to have had an impact upon the Barbarian side as they gave away the first penalty, which was within kicking distance. Not wanting to waste time, Burns belted the penalty kick through the uprights and with only four minutes gone off the clock, England had already created an impressive lead 10-0.

England remained strong as time ticked on and as the game approached the 12 minute mark, England were gifted with another chance to add points after the Barbarians were penalised for being offside. Burns assumed the kicking position, and with the gentle thud of leather hitting rubber, Burns pummelled the ball through the posts 13-0.

The Barbarians were beginning to look an utter shambles as they continued to make mistake after mistake and in the 24th minute, they gave away another penalty at the scrum. With his heart set on annihilating the Barbarians, Burns once again positioned himself in front of the posts before his big boot added another three points to England’s cause 16-0.

England supporters cheered emphatically as their side continued to embarrass this year’s Barbarians side, whilst the visiting fans looked on, unamused. They were not unamused for long, however, as two minutes after Burns’ third successful penalty kick, the Barbarians penetrated England’s 22 and were metres away from the tryline. Desperately seeking to attain their lost dignity, the all-star Barbarians thrust their way forward. As the Barbarian Holy Grail for points continued, England relentlessly pushed their visitors back and moments later, turned the ball over.

Play began to settle around the centre of the pitch, with both sides unable to add any more points to the scoreboard before halftime. As the clock reached the 38-minute stage, it looked as if the Barbarians may finally get onto the scoreboard as they chiselled their way into England’s 22. Metres away from the tryline was as close as they ever got, as an excellent England defence bundled James Hook into touch to leave the score at 16-0 at halftime.

Coming back onto the pitch, the invitational side looked revitalised and this showed instantly. As soon as the ball left Burns’ foot, the Barbarians aggressively pelted forwards to strike just inside England’s half. Desperate to stop any points from being scored, the immense England forwards forced the Barbarians to knock-on and a scrum was called near to halfway. Minutes after the scrum had first been called, it had still not been set and the crowd grew restless. Boos began to serenade the pitch, cries for players “to get on with it” could be heard from anywhere within the stadium, but these were all in vain as the Barbarians front row received treatment. More minutes flew past and the crowd, and England front row grew ever more agitated. Finally, the piercing whistle of Referee Leighton Hodges permeated the air and the scrum was set. It was all worth the wait when the ball blasted from the set piece into the arms of Marland Yarde. Noise levels rose with each footstep Yarde made as he sprinted down the blindside to get a try. Burns, hungry to get as many points as possible, eagerly booted over the extra two points and England looked unstoppable 23-0.

Ten minutes later, another mistake from the visitors gave Burns the opportunity to kick his team into a great attacking position. The lineout was taken quickly and the familiar sight of white shirts bounding over was seen once more as Kyle Eastmond scored his first international try. The conversion was missed by Burns, but the Barbarians were still being well and truly humiliated 28-0.

As the game reached its final quarter, it looked as if it would be a Barbarian duck. Fans and commentators alike could not understand why this team of talented and specially selected players were unable to score, and as England’s Christian Wade vaulted over for another try, things were looking abysmal for the depleted Barbarian side. Burns booted the conversion through and this young England side were becoming a resounding success 35-0.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, England were the Gods of Twickenham, and things were about to get even more glorious for the men in white and their fans. England fanatically clawed at the Barbarian’s scrum in their visitors’ 22, and were awarded a penalty. Using blue sky thinking, England chose to go for another scrum and seconds later Billy Twelvetrees zoomed over for try number five. Eastmond missed the sitter conversion, but English fans were oblivious as they jumped up and down with joy 40-0.

Time continued to crumble away, and just as everyone thought the Barbarians could not break their hoodoo, a late dash from Schalk Brits in the 69th minute resulted in Barbarians players celebrating. Unlike the black and white jersey adorned players, referee Hodges was unsure as to whether a try had been scored and the Television Match Official: David Grashoff was called for. Supporters held their breath as they focused their attention to the massive screens in the stadium replaying the potential try. Minutes passed, Barbarians management grew more and more anxious, and then massive grins erupted when Hodges’ arm flagged up to denote a try had been scored. Dimitri Yachvili missed the conversion, but the Barbarians looked happy just to be on the scoreboard.

As Barbarians’ fans celebrated, they were given even more reason to do so as only three minutes later from first getting onto the scoreboard, they did it again after a fantastic run and finish from the late signing, Elliot Daly. Nick Evans walloped the conversion over to make the final score a more respectable 40-12.

England have got their summer tour off to a dazzling start, but the Barbarians side needs to be much improved if they want to compete next week against the mighty British and Irish Lions.

15 Mike Brown 14 Christian Wade* 13 Jonathan Joseph 12 Billy Twelvetrees 11 Marland Yarde*10 Freddie Burns 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Alex Corbisiero 2 ROB WEBBER (C) 3 David Wilson 4 Joe Launchbury 5 Dave Attwood 6 Tom Johnson 7 Matt Kvesic*8 Ben Morgan BENCH: 16 David Paice 17 Joe Marler 18 Henry Thomas* 19 Kearnan Myall* 20 Billy Vunipola* 21 Haydn Thomas* 22 Jonny May * 23 Kyle Eastmond

SCORERS T: Burns, Yarde, Eastmond, Wade, Twelvetrees C: Burns (3) P: Burns (3)

15 Elliot Daly 14 Timoci Nagusa 13 Casey Laulala 12 MIKE TINDALL (C) 11 Taku Ngwenya 10 James Hook 9 Dwayne Peel 1 Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina 2 Matthew Rees 3 James Johnston 4 Jim Hamilton 5 Marco Wentzel 6 Alessandro Zanni 7 Jonathan Poff 8 Imanol Harinordoquy BENCH: 16 Schalk Brits 17 Duncan Jones 18 Paul James 19 Dean Mumm 20 Sam Jones 21 Dimitri Yachvili 22 Nick Evans 23 Rowan Varty

SCORERS T: Brits, Daly C: Evans

 

 

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WALES 30 - 21 BARBARIANS

MILLENIUM STADIUM - Saturday 2nd June 2012
KO: 14:00 HT: 13-14 Att: 57,565

HIGHLIGHTS

ALTHOUGH the Barbarians caused problems for Wales, their flair proved too much for the visitors in the end. The Barbarians had taken a hammering in their first match against England, and had only narrowly beaten an under-strength Ireland by one point, so came out ready to show they had learnt their lesson at the Millennium Stadium.

Matthew Rees’ match began rather roughly, leaving the hooker with a dislocated finger, which was relocated and strapped on the field so he could continue. However, Wales began strongly, drawing first blood when James Hook slotted his first penalty after just 4 minutes. It was a dream start as this was swiftly followed by a stunning try from Harry Robinson, which Hook converted. Wales looked comfortable and were turning over at rucks with great success; the early try stemmed from this strategy.

The Barbarians were having flashes of brilliance though, turning up the heat periodically and threatening the Welsh defence. There were moments when the homeside were left scrabbling to cover the ball, wrestling it into touch to avoid danger.

Stephen Donald had a very inconsistent match, ruining a penalty kick to touch at first but then going on to pile on the points for his side. In the 25th minute, Hook added another 3 points to the tally and had produced a solid performance so far to give themselves a cushion.

Then came the gear change from the visitors, with Donald finishing off a beautiful movement by the Barbarians to plant the ball over the whitewash. The fly-half added the extras himself and the Barbarians prepared for a last surge as the half drew into the final 10 minutes.

The situation worsened for Wales as Rhys Gill was sent marching for a professional foul, and Johnnie Beattie’s try-attempt went up to the TMO for analysis. Luckily for the homeside, Beattie was deemed to have been held up and a 5-metre scrum was called instead. Try-scorer Robinson was unfortunately sacrificed in favour of a forward due to Gill’s departure, but this did not deter the Barbarians who sent Mamuka Gorgodze over the tryline, only to see the ball fly loose as he fell. However, Richie Rees did not let the opportunity go to waste and hauled himself through the defence to claim the touchdown. Donald converted to edge the visitors in front and left the score 13-14 at the break.

At the restart, it was Wales who took control once more, shutting down the Barbarians before mounting a long period of offence. The visitors struggled to keep their opponents at bay, but eventually, Wales were given a penalty that was neatly knocked over by Hook, although he missed a shot just moments before.

The Barbarians were still fighting, with Sailosi Tagicakibau causing Josh Turnball to leap ferociously to halt his flight upfield. Then Shane Williams raced towards the tryline, only to be stopped by Martyn Williams, who earned his 100th cap for Wales when he stepped off the bench to a standing ovation. It was not long before the pressure was too much for Wales and Donald took full advantage, finding a gap to ground the ball for a converted score.

The assault continued as Wales failed to keep possession at lineouts and struggled to clear their lines effectively. However, in a moment of magic, Hook stormed into the open and over the tryline to leave the tallies level. He added the extras with ease and, against the grain of play, Wales were on the front foot once more.

Aled Brew had the final say, intercepting a loose pass from Shane Williams to thunder through to the whitewash. The whistle blew as the conversion went hurtling through the posts and Wales had snatched victory. 

15 Liam Williams* 14 Harry Robinson* 13 Andrew Bishop 12 James Hook 11 Aled Brew 10 Dan Biggar 9 Lloyd Williams 1 Rhys Gill 2 Matthew Rees (C) 3 Rhodri Jones* 4 Alun Wyn Jones 5 Ian Evans 6 Josh Turnbull 7 Justin Tipuric 8 Ryan Jones BENCH: 16 Richard Hibbard 17 Paul James 18 Aaron Shingler 19 Martyn Williams 20 Rhys Webb 21 Adam Warren* 22 Will Harries

SCORERS T: Robinson, Hook, Brew C: Hook (3) P: Hook (3)  Gill

15 Mils Muliaina 14 Isa Nacewa 13 Casey Laulala 12 Mike Tindall 11 Shane Williams 10 Stephen Donald 9 Richie Rees 1 Duncan Jones 2 Benoit August 3 John Smit (C) 4 Mick O'Driscoll 5 Mark Chisholm 6 Francois Louw 7 Mamuka Gorgodze 8 John Beattie BENCH: 16 Aled De Malmanche 17 Neemia Tialata 18 Anton Van Zyl 19 Akupusi Qera 20 Rory Lawson 21 Sailosi Tagicakibau 22 Cedric Heymans

SCORERS T: Donald (2), Rees C: Donald (3)

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

 

 

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BARBARIANS 29 - 28 IRELAND XV

KINGSHOLM - Tuesday 29th May 2012
KO: 19:45 HT: 19-14 Att: 11,654

A side deprived of the services of its Leinster representatives gave it their all but were just edged out by a late Felipe Contepomi penalty, going down 29-28 after a lively non-cap encounter.

The world famous invitational outfit included several players with Gloucester connections within their ranks and thrived on this and showed a dogged determination that was sadly lacking in their heavy defeat by England last Sunday.

This felt like a 'real' international and the pragmatic decision by Barbarians captain Mick O'Driscoll, the retiring Munster lock, to take the decisive three points on offer just a couple of minutes before time was not a surprising one.

It was nip and tuck all the way. As soon as one side took the lead, the other hit back. There was never more than a score in it.

The green defensive line held out but it was severely tested when former Leinster star Contepomi initiated a well executed run-around move which faltered a few metres short of the line when Iain Balshaw lost possession in the tackle.

However, the Barbarians were not to be denied as Mike Tindall and Mamuka Gorgodze made good ground to establish excellent field position, enabling Paul Sackey to fire a long pass out to Balshaw who crossed in the left hand corner.

Contepomi, facing his regular rival Ronan O'Gara from his days in Ireland, added an excellent conversion and Ireland trailed 7-0 after 12 minutes.

However, they were quickly back on terms as the Barbarians became victims of their own ambition.

Seizing on turnover ball in the Baa Baas' 22, Craig Gilroy had only half a metre of space near the right touchline but twisted and spun and fought his way to the line. O'Gara landed an excellent conversion.

Back came the Barbarians and Tindall was clearly enjoying himself back on his home turf. His powerful surge was halted just short of the line but the offload found Italian international Cornelius Van Zyl, who was unstoppable from that range, and the Baa Baas had a 12-7 buffer.

Ulster flyer Gilroy once again provided the spark as Ireland responded in style. He outstripped Tindall down the right flank before finding John Muldoon in support. The flanker had room to run but also the good sense to offload to the supporting Keith Earls who crossed unopposed. O'Gara added the extras and brought his side level again.

The parity was shortlived. After Peter O'Mahony and Benoit August were lectured for a scuffle, Sackey caught the Irish defence napping with a quick tap and put on the afterburners to sprint clear. Contepomi's conversion made it 19-14.

The Baa Baas were clearly dead set on making a better fist of things than they had at Twickenham at the weekend and were denied a fourth try when Balshaw was held up over the line after another burst by Tindall.

Declan Kidney's men finished the half 14-19 on the back foot but escaped further damage despite more adventure from the visitors.

The response from Ireland in the second half was immediate as a powerful drive from the pack softened up the defence before Murray and O'Gara combined to put Simon Zebo over in the corner. O'Gara's touchline conversion was immaculate.

However, if Ireland thought the Barbarians were now going to roll over, they were mistaken as ill-discipline conceded valuable territory. Under pressure, the Irish defence was solid but not solid enough and the roof was almost lifted off Kingsholm as home favourite Tindall smashed through a tackle and reached over the line for a hugely popular try. Contepomi converted to nudge his side back in front - 26-21 - after 57 minutes.

Ireland were stung into action and Gilroy, once more, was heavily involved. His surge down the right flank made the initial inroads and, several phases later, the winger finished the move in front of the famous Shed. The peerless O'Gara again added the extras for a 28-26 lead.

However, perhaps riding the wave of emotion that threatened to engulf Kingsholm as the Gloucester contingent made popular exits, the Barbarians had the final word. Patiently working their way into the Irish 22, they set up a central attacking position and an Irish hand crept illegally into the ruck. Contepomi stroked home the winning penalty and despite a late Irish rally, the Barbarians held on to clinch a hard-fought one-point win.

Match report courtesy of IRFU

15 Cedric Heymans 14 Paul Sackey 13 Mike Tindall 12 Damien Traille 11 Iain Balshaw 10 Felipe Contepomi 9 Rory Lawson 1 Duncan Jones 2 Benoit August 3 John Afoa 4 Mick O'Driscoll (C) 5 Cornelius van Zyl 6 Mamuka Gorgodze 7 Francois Louw 8 Raphael Lakafia BENCH: 16 Aled de Malmanche 17 Neemia Tialata 18 Pelu Taele 19 Akapusi Qera 20 Richie Rees 21 Stephen Donald 22 Isa Nacewa

SCORERS T: Balshaw, van Zyl, Sackey, Tindall C: Contepomi (3) P: Contepomi

15 Keith Earls 14 Craig Gilroy* 13 Darren Cave 12 Paddy Wallace 11 Simon Zebo* 10 Ronan O’Gara (C) 9 Conor Murray 1 Brett Wilkinson* 2 Mike Sherry* 3 Declan Fitzpatrick* 4 Dan Tuohy 5 Donnacha Ryan 6 John Muldoon 7 Chris Henry 8 Peter O’Mahony BENCH: 16 Rory Best 17 Ronan Loughney* 18 Donncha O’Callaghan 19 James Coughlan* 20 Paul Marshall* 21 Nevin Spence* 22 Andrew Trimble

SCORERS T: Gilroy (2), Earls, Zebo C: O'Gara (4)

Referee: Jérôme Garces (FFR)

 

 

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ENGLAND 57 - 26 BARBARIANS

TWICKENHAM - Sunday 27th May 2012
KO: 14:30 HT: 22-7 Att: 42,269

HIGHLIGHTS

ENGLAND were 18 men short of their full complement courtesy of the Aviva Premiership Final the previous day where Harlequins took Leicester Tigers to task to win the national trophy, including captain Chris Robshaw, so Northampton Saints No.8 Phil Dowson admirably stepped up to the mark. But that did not stop the home side - peppered with uncapped players and Saxons - from running rings around a strong Barbarians side.

It took England a short while to kick into gear on a scorching afternoon at Twickenham, but once they found their groove, the home side convincingly put the invitational side away eight tries to four, and RWC top try scorer, Chris Ashton, shook off his scoring drought from his last six appearances in an England shirt by bagging a hat trick with not a splashdown in sight. Uncapped London Irish centre, Jonathan Joseph, also made his mark off the bench with two tries, though remains uncapped until he gets to pull on the England Rose in South Africa at some point during the Summer Tour.

The Barbarians, led by RWC-winning captain, John Smit, illustrated poor discipline from early on in the game, but luckily for them England fly half, Owen Farrell, was not having the best day missing penalties and a conversion. Nevertheless, by the end of the first quarter, a converted try from Ashton and the only penalty from Farrell had the homeside up 10-0.

After half an hour, Mils Muliaina scrambled over for the BaaBaas, and RWC-winning fly half Stephen Donald added the extras to halve the deficit, but it did not take long for England to heave over the tryline again with Dylan Hartley planting the ball firmly under a heap of white shirts. Farrell could not find his mark to add any extras.

Moments later, it was Hartley who made the break for Ashton to secure a second try. This time Farrell converted, whilst Hartley had to be checked out, blood all over his face from a cut mouth; a minor glitch compared to his 8-week hiatus from playing at all following a ban for biting Stephen Ferris during the Six Nations.

Heading down the tunnel at half time, England were already firmly in control, 22-7 up.

Ashton wasted no time at the start of the second half as he flew over the whitewash for his hat trick, and with the conversion, England were already 29-7 ahead with just 5 minutes played so far.

All Black Muliaina added his second try, but England continued to hinder most attempts by the BaaBaas at gaining any ground or possession. Mouritz Botha had a blinder of a game as well, but Tom Palmer could not collect his offload which would have allowed try no. #5 after 50 minutes.

England did not let up for a moment, despite the heat -though a couple of extra water breaks were allowed to compensate- and moving into the final quarter, Wasps try-scoring machine, Christian Wade crossed over. The conversion took the home side over three scores clear of the visitors, 36-12.

Former England centre, Mike Tindall, stormed over for the BaaBaas’ third try, but the conversion from Donald was short-lived as England quickly stole the ball and replacement scrum half, Richard Wigglesworth notched up a fifth try. Still 12 minutes remaining after the conversion, captain Phil Dowson was stretchered off the pitch with a knock to the head, though he did soon recover enough to head down to SA with his team.

England had no intention of releasing the pressure despite the 43-19 lead, head coach Stuart Lancaster making it very clear before the match that this was being treated as a full test by the young side. And it was Joseph who planted the ball over the line in the 70th minute following a chip through from Wade.

The Barbarians retaliated immediately with a converted try from the Samoan lock, Pelu Taele, but this was the last score from the visitors.

Meanwhile, Chris Ashton deservedly was awarded Man of the Match, and Joseph was also not yet done, crashing through the BaaBaas defence with a minute left on the clock. A final conversion from Farrell left England with a more than satisfactory 57-26 win; a perfect start to a month-long tour to South Africa, but that would be no walk in the park, even with the team back at full strength.

15 Ben Foden 14 Chris Ashton 13 Brad Barritt 12 Owen Farrell 11 Christian Wade 10 Charlie Hodgson 9 Lee Dickson 1 Matt Stevens 2 Dylan Hartley 3 Paul Doran Jones 4 Mouritz Botha 5 Tom Palmer 6 Tom Johnson 7 Carl Fearns 8 PHIL DOWSON (C) BENCH: Lee Mears 17 Matt Mullan 18 Joe Launchbury 19 Jamie Gibson 20 Richard Wigglesworth 21 Jonathan Joseph 22 Alex Goode

SCORERS T: Ashton (3), Hartley, Wade, Wigglesworth, Joseph (2) C: Farrell (7) P: Farrell

15 Mils Muliaina 14 Paul Sackey 13 Casey Laulala 12 Mike Tindall 11 Iain Balshaw 10 Stephen Donald 9 Rory Lawson 1 Neemia Tialata 2 JOHN SMIT (C) 3 John Afoa 4 Mark Chisholm 5 Anton van Zyl 6 Ernst Joubert 7 John Beattie 8 Akapusi Qera BENCH: 16 Benoit August 17 Duncan Jones 18 Pelu Taele 19 Raphael Lakafia 20 Jerome Fillol 21 Felipe Contepomi 22 Sailosi Tagicakibau

SCORERS T: Muliaina (2), Tindall, Taele-Pavihi C: Donald (2), Contepomi

Man of the Match: Chris Ashton (England)

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

 

 

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BARBARIANS 11 - 60 AUSTRALIA

TWICKENHAM - Saturday 26th November 2011
KO: 2.30pm HT: 3-18 Att: 51,212

HIGHLIGHTS

THE Barbarians were unable to continue their four-match winning sequence against international opposition in a disappointing performance. Once again the Wallabies proved their Achilles heel as they ran in six second-half tries that exposed the Baa-Baas' lack of match fitness.

The first half-half had been far more competitive. After James O'Connor and Danny Cipriani had exchanged penalty goals in the first 15 minutes, the game settled into a pattern of sustained Wallaby ball retention and territorial dominance. O'Connor's opportunist 21st minute drop goal gave no indication of the try-fest to follow. But Digby Ioane's surge through the heart of the midfield defence shoud have set the alarm bells ringing. The Barbarians still threatened with breakaways of their own: a trademark break by Bryan Habana and Sam Tomkins almost squeezing over near the right corner raised hopes of a response only for the last move of the half to end with another Wallaby try for Lachie Turner.

Cipriani's second penalty goal two minutes after the restart reduced the arrears to 6-18 but the Wallabies were in no mood to surrender their scoreboard supremacy. Four tries in 13 minutes killed the game as a contest and further touchdowns had taken them to 60 points before the Barbarians at least finished strongly with Cipriani and Kahui showing good handling skills to send Tomkins diving over for the consolation try.

15 I Toeava* 14 S L Tomkins* 13 R Fruean* 12 S A Mortlock* 11 B G Habana 10 D J Cipriani* 9 P J Stringer 1 E Guinazu* 2 K F Mealamu 3 S Marconnet* 4 S D Shaw 5 V Matfield (capt) 6 J Kaino 7 A J Thomson* 8 M Bergamasco* BENCH: 16 J A Strauss* (for Mealamu h/t) 17 S Perugini (for Guinazu h/t) 18 J P R White* (for Thomson h/t) 19 M Bortolami* (for Shaw h/t) 20 N Kenatale* (for Stringer h/t) 21 R D Kahui* (for Toeava h/t) 22 R S R Rabeni (for Fruean h/t) 23 Guinazu (for Marconnet 65)

SCORERS T: Tomkins P: Cipriani (2)

15 A P Ashley-Cooper 14 L D Turner 13 R G Horne 12 B S Barnes 11 D N Ione 10 J D O'Connor 9 S W Genia 1 J A Slipper 2 T Polota Nau 3 R S L Ma'afu 4 R A Simmons 5 N C Sharpe 6 S Higginbotham 7 D A Dennis 8 D W Pocock (capt) BENCH: 16 S T Moore 17 B E Alexander 18 J E Horwill 19 R Samo 20 M J Hodgson 21 N Phipps 22 B Tapuai

SCORERS T: Ioane (2), Turner (2), Horwill (2), Horne, Samo, Cons – O'Connor (7), P: O'Connor, DG: O'Connor

Referee: Romaine Poite (France)

 

 

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WALES 28 - 31 BARBARIANS

MILLENNIUM STADIUM - Saturday 4th June 2011
KO: 2.30pm HT: 14-19

HIGHLIGHTS  

WARREN GATLAND's men took an early lead in the 130 anniversary match thanks to George North's third try in five appearances but they trailed 19-14.

Iosefa Tekori, Isa Nacewa and Sergio Parisse all touched down for the Baa-Baas while Morgan Stoddart raced clear for Wales.

Wales looked to have put themselves back on the road to victory with tries second-half tries from Mike Phillips and Aled Brew.

But Mathieu Bastareaud and Isa Nacewa pounced for a pair tries in the final 10 minutes to secure a sensational comeback.

There was a minute's silence ahead of the match in respect of the four victims of the Pembroke oil refinery tragedy.

But following the kick-off the Baa-Baas enjoyed the brighter start and camped themselves deep in Wales territory. But Gatland's men showed great resilience typified by centurion Jones who held Joe Van Niekerk at bay when a try had looked inevitable.

And it was Wales that grabbed the game's opening try following their first real venture into Baa-Baas territory. The ball was spread to Gavin Henson, making his first appearance in the red since March 2009, and he fired a pin-point pass to North for his third Welsh try in five matches. Jones added the extras to had Wales a 7-0 lead on the 10-minute mark.

But typically the famous invitational side demonstrated their attacking flair with a fine try following a counter-attack on seven minutes.

Brock James intercepted Jones' short-pass and broke through he then fed Van Niekerk before the South African flicked an audacious pass to Tekori to score. James hit the post with his conversion but the visitors quickly added a second try.

The Baa-Baas worked the overlap from inside the Welsh twenty-two and Nacewa raced over to score. James added the extras to hand the visitors a 12-7 lead.

But Wales quickly regained their advantage when Stoddart intercepted Cardiff Blues captain Paul Tito's pass to race 60 metres and score. Jones again slotted the conversion to put Wales back in front at 14-12.

But it was the Baa-Baas that had the final say in the opening half and Parisse charged over from the back of a dominant scrum on 34 minutes to restore his side's lead. Tillous-Borde dissected the posts to hand the Baa-Baas a 19-14 lead at the interval.

Things did not start well for Wales with Aled Brew shown yellow for a high-tackle within minutes of the restart. But Tekori quickly followed Brew to the sin-bin for a professional foul as Wales pressed.

Warren Gatland's men continued to heap the pressure on the Baa-Baas with only the wily Welsh veteran Martyn Williams keeping his compatriots out.

But Wales restored their lead on the 53rd minute when Phillips drove over from close-range. Jones was again on target with the boot to hand Wales a slender 21-19 lead.

They then landed what appeared a hammer-blow on the 65th minute when Brew crashed through Iestyn Thomas to touch-down. Again, in his last action of the game, centurion Jones nailed the conversion to put Wales in a 28-19 lead.

But with less than 10-minutes to go Willie Mason demonstrated why Toulon fought to sign him. He created a moment of magic to release Thomas who in turn fed Bastareaud.

Then with the final play of the game Nacewa raced clear for a second try to steal the win and James slotted the extras.

15 Morgan Stoddart 14 George North 13 Jonathan Davies 12 Gavin Henson 11 Aled Brew 10 Stephen Jones 9 Mike Phillips 1 Ryan Bevington 2 Huw Bennett 3 Paul James 4 Ryan Jones 5 Luke Charteris 6 Dan Lydiate 7 Sam Warburton [C] 8 Toby Faletau BENCH: 16 Lloyd Burns 17 Scott Andrews 18 Alun Wyn Jones 19 Josh Turnbull 20 Tavis Knoyle 21 Rhys Priestland 22 Scott William

SCORERS T: North, Stoddart, Philips, Brew C: S Jones (4)  Aled Brew

15 Isa Nacewa 14 Paul Sackey 13 Seru Rabeni 12 Mathieu Bastareaud 11 Doug Howlett 10 Brock James 9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde 1 Iestyn Thomas 2 Sebastien Bruno 3 Carl Hayman 4 Joe Tekori 5 Paul Tito 6 Joe van Niekerk 7 Martyn Williams 8 Sergio Parisse BENCH: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini 17 Davit Kubriashvili 18 Erik Lund 19 George Smith 20 Lewis Williams 21 Willie Mason 22 Benoit Baby

SCORERS T: Tekori, Nacewa (2), Parisse, Bastareaud C: James (3)  Joe Tekori

Man of the Match: Sergio Parisse
Referee: Alain Rolland

 

 

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ENGLAND 32 - 38 BARBARIANS

TWICKENHAM - Sunday 29th May 2011
KO: 2.30pm BST HT: 24-14

HIGHLIGHTS

NOT three minutes has passed before the young England XV displayed their first half dominance with a debut try from Henry Trinder, converted by Charlie Hodgson to take an early 7-0 lead in front of an unimpressive 38, 680 crowd at Twickenham.

But an outside break on the 22 along with some fancy aversion tactics and Benoit Baby flew over the try line, and Frederic Michalak added the extras to equalise by the eighth minute.

At the end of the first quarter, crowd favourite Ugo Monye -having already chipped the ball  forward to within a metre of the try line- jumped on the opportunity of Jeanjean releasing the ball and touched it down for a second England try. Hodgson converted the try to add to the earlier penalty, giving the homeside a 10 point lead.

Soon after, the visitors almost retaliated with Baby about to score in the corner but a try-saving tackle from James Simpson-Daniel bundled him into touch. And from a Michalak chip forward which bounced straight into captain Luke Narraway’s hands, an offload to Simpson-Daniel proved a wise move as he side-stepped his way round a couple of half-hearted defenders and upped England’s score to 24-7 with Hodgson’s conversion.

The BaaBaas finally moved play into England’s 22, and then had the advantage of an extra man after debutant, Carl Fearns earned himself a sin binning for obstruction. An earlier forward pass disallowed Paul Sackey’s try, and the consequent penalty allowed England to eventually clear the ball out of the danger zone.

With only minutes to go until half time and the crowd growing restless (and the Mexican wave growing in intensity around the stadium), Mike Brown made a break from inside his own 22 almost to the half way line, but a clever intercept from Michalak reversed the fortune as he ran in a second try for the BaaBaas; his conversion was the cue for half time and the two sides went into the break 24-14.

The start of the second half, Monye had to be assisted off the pitch limping on a battered knee and replaced by fellow Quin, Jordan Turner-Hall, and England returned to their full complement with Fearns returning to the field of play.

‎A missed tackle from Simpson-Daniel resulted in a 50m charge from Tim Visser from half way to score, and though there was no conversion, the Barbarians had begun their comeback. Ten minutes later and the visitors looked the stronger side, and a determined drive deep in England’s 22 and quick ball allowed George Smith to sneak over the line in the corner, equalising the score at 24 - all.

Going into the final quarter of the game, Toulon's Joe van Niekerk scored a fifth try for the BaaBaas, much to Martin Johnson’s annoyance up in the West Stand, but soon after the mood became more sombre as another Harlequin, prop Joe Marler had to be stretchered off the field after much deliberation following a scrum injury.

Charlie Hodgson reduced the 7 point BaaBaas lead to just 4 deftly kicking a penalty over the crossbar, taking the score to 27-31.

England were then faced with another injury scare after Henry Trinder went down from an almost high tackle but then became a cushion for the formidable and not slight Mathieu Bastareaud, but appeared to bounce back quickly as his side got within metres of the Barbarians’ try line. A penalty was given, and a second of the five debutants, Tom Johnson scored England’s fourth try. The conversion bouncing off the post meant England took the lead by just one point, so the homeside just had to hold their nerve and discipline for the remaining seven minutes.

Less than two minutes to go, the BaaBaas were just inside their own half when a break from last minute replacement Joe Tekori was off loaded to van Niekerk then Visser for the Dutchman’s second try, followed by a conversion from Ruan Pienaar, sealing the victory for the Barbarians,  38-32. It was an impressive comeback for a transient side that was 24-7 down just before the end of the first half of the match.

Man of the match was awarded to Salvatore Perugini, and time has definitely been called on England’s rugby season for now...with the exception of course of the Churchill Cup beginning next weekend.

Since the match, the good news for England is that Monye’s knee was just bruised and he has charged off to Vegas for some well-earned R&R with Danny Care and Courtney Lawes, and Joe Marler was only concussed and has since been annoying his Quins team mates as per usual.

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins) 14 James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby) 13 Henry Trinder* (Gloucester Rugby) 12 Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins) 10 Charlie Hodgson  (Sale Sharks) 9 Paul Hodgson ( London Irish) 1 Joe Marler* (Harlequins) 2 David Paice (London Irish) 3 Paul Doran-Jones  (Gloucester Rugby) 4 Graham Kitchener* (Worcester Warriors) 5 David Attwood  (Gloucester Rugby) 6 Tom Johnson* (Exeter Chiefs) 7 Carl Fearns* (Sale Sharks) 8 Luke Narraway [C] (Gloucester Rugby) BENCH: 16 Joe Gray (Harlequins) 17 Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons) 18 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks) 19 Jamie Gibson (London Irish) 20 Micky Young (Newcastle Falcons) 21 Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints) 22 Jordon Turner-Hall (Harlequins)

* Uncapped players

SCORERS T: Trinder, Monye, Simpson-Daniel, Johnson C: C Hodgson (3) P: C Hodgson (2) Carl Fearns

15 Nicolas Jeanjean (Brive) 14 Paul Sackey (Toulon) 13 Benoit Baby (Clermont Auvergne) 12 Mathieu Bastareaud (Stade Français) 11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) 10 Frederic Michalak (Toulouse) 9 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) 1 Salvatore Perugini (Aironi) 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso) 3 Davit Kubriashvili (Toulon) 4 Erik Lund (Biarritz) 5 Quintin Geldenhuys (Aironi) 6 Joe van Niekerk (Toulon) 7 George Smith (Toulon) 8 SERGIO PARISSE [C] (Stade Français) BENCH: 16 Sebastien Bruno (Toulon) 17 Carl Hayman (Toulon) 18 Joe Tekori 19 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues) 20 Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Castres Olympique) 21 Willie Mason (Toulon) 22 Seru Rabeni (La Rochelle)

SCORERS T: Baby, Michalak, Visser (2), Smith, van Niekerk C: Michalak (3), Pienaar

Man Of The Match: Salvatore Perugini
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France) Asst. Referees: Pascau Gauzere (France), David Changleng (Scotland) TMO: Hugh Watkins (Wales)

 

 

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BARBARIANS 26 - 20 SOUTH AFRICA

TWICKENHAM – Saturday 4th December 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

15 James O'Connor 14 Joe Rokocoko 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper 12 Ma'a Nonu 11 Drew Mitchell 10 Matt Giteau (C) 9 Will Genia 1 Salvatore Perugini 2 Stephen Moore 3 Neemia Tialata 4 Anton van Zyl 5 Chris Jack 6 Rodney So'oialo 7 Martyn Williams 8 Colin Bourke BENCH: 16 Keven Mealamu 17 John Yapp 18 Quintin Geldenhuys 19 Daniel Braid 20 Andrew Ellis 21 Stephen Donald 22 Seru Rabini

SCORERS T: Geldenhuys, Mitchell 2, O'Connor C: O'Connor 3

15 Patrick Lambie 14 Odwa Ndungane 13 Adi Jacobs 12 Andries Strauss 11 Lwazi Mvovo 10 Elton Jantjies 9 Francois Hougaard 8 Ryan Kankowski 7 Juan Smith (C) 6 Willem Alberts 5 Alistair Hargreaves 4 Bakkies Botha 3 CJ van der Linde 2 Adriaan Strauss 1 Coenie Oosthuizen BENCH: 16 Bandise Maku 17 Tendai Mtawarira 18 AN Other 19 Flip van der Merwe 20 Keegan Daniel 21 Charl McLeod 22 Gio Aplon

SCORERS T: Botha, Maku, Ndungane C: Jantjies P: Jantjies

 

 

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COMBINED SERVICES 21 - 46 BARBARIANS

ALDERSHOT - Tuesday 9th November 2010

The Barbarians left nothing to chance when they 'fleeced' the Combined Services by 46 - 21 in the annual Remembrance Day Match at Aldershot.

It was clear that with former England coach Brian Ashton at the helm the Barbarians were determined to avenge the Services victory in 2009.

Wales prop Ben Evans currently playing in Italy captained a team that included eight internationals. That the centre of gravity of such excellence lay at half back, and included Maori No 10 Willie Walker outside Italy scrum half Paul Griffen heralded likely trouble.

The Services starting XV stuck to its guns but throughout were kept short of ammunition. Frequently on the back foot, they dug in and Chris Budgen (Exeter Chiefs) and Marsh Cormack (Navy) generated some momentum down the centre. Lock Darrell Ball covered huge tracts but the Services seldom looked sufficiently secure to release their backs. That talisman and former Fiji captain Apo Satala had to leave the field after five minutes was a major blow.

The new half back pairing of Navy skipper Dave Pascoe and Fiji international Jack Prasad moved well but always in the shadow of the Barbarian back row where the impressive No8 Nicola Cattina (Aironi) remained fiercely combatant.

England 7s international Josh Drauniniu ran in a fine try whilst Prasad produced the best Services attacking move of the match to go under the posts from 40m. Pascoe kicked accurately for position and goal.

The Barbarians were flamboyant but, critically, more than competitive up front. The grisly Wales props Evans and Darren Morris (RGC 1404), and the Worcester Warriors' Chris Fortey grafted in places where the lights failed to penetrate.

The BaaBaas maintained the adventurous tempo that has hallmarked their famous shirts since Hartlepool in 1890. Springbok full back Thinus Delport was the proverbial last line of attack whilst Willie Walker managed to produce flashes of Maori ball control and flair to open the gaps. The 'hordes' poured through.

Griffen was a particular handful. He is a 'will-of-the-wisp' player that big forwards dream of nailing but that did not happen and his 30m passes allowed Walker and Ireland international Kevin Maggs to avoid the heavy traffic. Later on one suspects there may have been a petrol strike.

The makeshift Services back row of Army skipper Mark Lee, Joe Kava and England 7s international Greg Barden covered and tackled heroically to restrict the Barbarians to a three scores by half time. In the second period sustained professional fitness allowed them greater freedom - a jink here and a feint there against a tiring defence before crowding on the pace.

Pascoe led his cohorts bravely in to the teeth of the onslaught only to be outnumbered when Barbarian shirts appeared out of the night - two attackers for every man in a white shirt attempting to stem the tide. In essence the length and speed of Paul Griffen's pass prevented the Services nailing the free- runners, particularly Delport, who went on to score.

The 2,000 crowd applauded the Barbarians who responded by attacking in wave after wave. It was a slick exhibition of the modern game where forwards and backs were distinguishable only by the numbers on their shirts. The final score 46-21 reflected the second half professional - Corinthian gap. On the night the power, skills and speed of the Barbarians were difficult to handle.

Barbarians: T: Vaioleti 2, Walker 2, Jarvis, Delport, Fortey, Botha C: Walker 3

Combined Services: T: Drauniniu, Prasad, Reid C: Pascoe 3

HIGHLIGHTS

 Created By J. Fowke

G M Delport (Stourbridge & SA); *P D Jarvis (Hartpury College), *A M Hodgson (Wharfedale), K M Maggs (Moseley & Ireland), *J S Rudd (Rosslyn Park); *W C A Walker (Worcester Warriors), *P R Griffen (Calvisano & Italy); D R Morris (RGC 1404 & Wales), C P Fortey (Worcester Warriors), B R Evans (Gran Ducato di Parma & Wales), capt., *T Vaioleti (Wharfedale & Tonga), *P D Arnold (Fylde), *F J Boer (Cinderford), *N Cattina (Aironi), *J R Navidi (Cardiff Blues)

Replacements: *C B Hawkins (Llanelli) - Fortey (60); *R J Barrington (Hartpury College) - Morris (66); *J M Beaumont (Fylde) - Arnold (53); J S Miller (Bristol) - Navidi (60); *S Dusi (Gran Ducato di Parma) - Griffen (63); *J Botha (Hartpury College) - Hodgson (53) [* - new Barbarian]

J Reid; G Qasevakatini, P Nacamavuto, A Evans, J Drauniniu; J Prasad, D Pascoe (capt); C Budgen, G Evans, M W Lewis, D Ball, M Cormack, A Satala, J Kava, G Barden

Replacements: M L Dwyer - G Evans (52); K Dowding - Lewis (52); D Chambers - Kava (65); M A Lee - Satala (10); I Martin - Pascoe (67); W John - Drauniniu (50); J Martin - Qasevakatini (30)

 

 

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ENGLAND 35 - 26 BARBARIANS

TWICKENHAM – Sunday 30th May 2010
KO: 2.30pm HT: 25-7 Att: 41,035

ENGLAND warmed up for their summer tour of Australasia with a well-earned victory, but Martin Johnson’s team was forced to withstand a strong second-half fight back from the invitational side.

It was a glorious day as the sun fell strongly over the East Stand spoilt only by the fact that the stadium was half empty.

England led 32-7 early in the second half, but were then pegged back to 32-26 before a late Olly Barkley penalty put the win beyond doubt.

The home side opened in determined and attacking fashion, taking an early 6-0 lead thank to two penalties from Sale Sharks fly-half Charlie Hodgson on his return to international rugby.

Their first try came in the 14th minute, when Stade Francais blind-side James Haskell picked the ball up 50 yards out and embarked upon a mazy, rampaging run which took the flanker all the way to the line. Hodgson duly added the conversion.

England added two more tries before half-time, sandwiched by one from the Baa-Baas.

Playing his first international match in English colours, Bath centre Shontayne Hape darted neatly through a gap in the visiting defence on 24 minutes, with Hodgson again converting.

Former England star Paul Sackey then pulled a try back for the Barbarians five minutes before the interval, with Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde adding the extra two points.

The home team hit straight back, extending their advantage as half-time approached with arguably the best move of the match.

Captain Nick Easter and hooker Steve Thompson both carried the ball forward under considerable pressure, freeing Northampton full-back Ben Foden, who scampered home in the left hand corner. Bath centre Barkley, on as a replacement for the injured Hodgson, put the tricky conversion attempt just wide of the right-hand post.

Martin Johnson’s side opened up a healthy 25-point gap six minutes into the second half when Gloucester centre Mike Tindall broke free from a crowd of bodies to score under the posts. Barkley converted.

That sparked something of a fight back from the Barbarians as their undoubted quality and expansive rugby shone through in the final half-hour.

New Zealander David Smith crossed the line on 58 minutes, after a long spell of visiting pressure and another replacement, Toulouse’s Samoan prop Census Johnson, did the same six minutes later.

Ellisalde converted the second try as well as another Baa-Baas try four minutes from time.

That came from a flowing move which created an overlap on the right, freeing Sackey for his second try of the match, but England held their nerve to close out the game with Barkley’s late penalty sealing victory.

England now head Down Under for two Test matches against the Wallabies, plus two tour games against the Australian Barbarians and one against the New Zealand Maori.

England
T: Haskell. Hape, Foden, Tindall
C: Hodgson 2, Barkley
P: Hodgson 2, Barkley

Barbarians
T:  Sackey 2, D Smith, Johnson
C: Ellisalde 3

 

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