The Barbarians have assembled!
Yes, the most exciting rugby team in the entire world has been called to arms for Test matches against England, Wales and Ireland. The Baa-baas have always been renowned for their no-frills rugby and for spreading the ball wide at any given opportunity. They call on players from the top rugby playing nations to form a formidable side who then challenge pre-determined opponents. The most notable aspects of Barbarians rugby are that the coach has to select a player who still plays rugby as an amateur and that all players must wear the socks of their club teams.
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| JPR Williams in the 1970 team |
The 2012 squad is being coached by New Zealand rugby great, John Kirwan who is well known in rugby circle especially for a sublime 90 metre dash and score against Argentina in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. Their first match is against England on Sunday 27 May at rugbys spiritual home, Twickenham. England will not be taking this match lightly as the Baa-baas team is laced with classy athletes who are renowned for either their rock-solid defence or their mesmerising attack. Pacy English fullback Ben Foden ponders his sides gameplan:
When you play the Barbarians, you find yourselves being pulled into their style of rugby, It's hard not to get swept up in it and that's when mistakes happen. We need to control the tempo of the game, to play in the right areas.
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| Seru Rabeni |
Sunday's match-up against the Red Roses of England will be a platform from which the Home Nations can attempt to launch their campaign for the IRB June Tests against the Southern Hemisphere nations. Isa Nacewa and Akapusi Qera are the only Fijians in the2012 Baa-baas and Qera has made it into the matchday 22 to face England.
England: B Foden; C Ashton (both Northampton), B
Barritt, O Farrell (both Saracens), C Wade (Wasps); C Hodgson
(Saracens), L Dickson (Northampton); M Stevens (Saracens), D Hartley, P
Doran-Jones (both Northampton), M Botha (Saracens), T Palmer (Stade
Français), T Johnson (Exeter), C Fearns (Bath), P Dowson (capt;
Northampton). Replacements: L Mears (Bath), M Mullan (Worcester), J
Launchbury (Wasps), J Gibson (London Irish), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), J
Joseph (London Irish), A Goode (Saracens)
Barbarians:
M Muliaina (New Zealand); P Sackey (England), C Laulala (New Zealand), M
Tindall, I Balshaw (both England); S Donald (New Zealand), R Lawson
(Scotland); N Tialata (New Zealand), J Smit (capt; South Africa), J Afoa
(New Zealand), M Chisholm (Australia), A van Zyl (Stade Français),
EJoubert (Saracens), A Qera (Fiji), J Beattie (Scotland). Replacements: B
August (France), D Jones (Wales), P Taele (Samoa), R Lakafia (France), J
Fillol (Stade Français), F Contepomi (Argentina), S Tagicakibau
(Samoa).
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| Sonny Bill Williams in Barbarians colours |
Indeed, the Barbarians are known for their expensive and exciting playing style, which is quite similar to that of the Flying Fijian's; unorthodox. However, I believe they have diminished in value over the years. Rugby has evolved and there is very little room for teams that still rely on "half-chances" and individual skill. The team must work as a unit. In their last outing, the Barbas got drubbed, 60 points to 11 against Australia. Yes, the Barbarians maybe a club of rich rugby history and comprise of talented individuals from all over the rugby world but in the end that'all they are. A group of individuals trying desperately to string together a couple of set plays they rehearsed a few days before the match. If the Barbarians are remain a force to be reckoned with, I believe that the team deserves more time to prepare. Players must get accustomed to both the coaching panel and also their teammates style of play. Only then will their legacy be maintained.
ReplyDeleteI thought the All Blacks are the best, most exciting rugby team in the world? I was under the impression the 'Baa baas' are usually made up of those second tier players whose star's are respectivly on the wane! :) Mind you, I'm not an avid rugby player/fan so my points are entirely my own and I don't mind if they are dissagreed with. I think I would rather see a well disciplined Fijian team plying their magic and skillfully carving up the opposition. But if there is no other option for a beer than to watch the Barbarians play then so be it... I wonder though, would Mr Shwarzenegger be too old to play? After all he was the original Barbarian;) I'd probably pay to see that.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Chris 'Splashton' Ashton scores three tries as England humble the Barbarians in a display of free-flowing rugby.
ReplyDeletehttp://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7781920,00.html
Can you say thrashed? :)
Should be side's gameplan. Should be rugby's. Do you not believe in apostrophes? Should be 90-metre dash. That block quote is a bit short.
ReplyDeleteI think Barbarians team is an old fashioned rugby tour now. Indeed it was most exciting to watch the Barbarians take the field against any team in the world. But over the years now, the game of rugby has changed so much and more focus is placed on other tournaments or tours such as IRB sevens, Tri-nations, end of the year Europe tour or the World Cup.
ReplyDeleteWhen the 'Baa baas' played it was much more passion and pride which came with that black and white stripped jersey. I have not seen that lately. The results speak for itself and the latest result 57-26 thrashing at the hands of England. They did lose games before but not with this sort of margins. Being a 'Baa baas' fan myself, I see my interest turning to sevens unless they come up with a new approach. Assembling the 'worlds best' just a few days/weeks before game will not help. As Maseikula said and I agree more time and preparation is needed to win rugby games in this era.