Dwyer's View

Barbarians v New Zealand.

Twickenham, 5^th Dec. 2009

Barbarians’ rugby has a special place in the hearts and minds of players and fans the world over. Administrators of the game, in general, have tried for some years now to discount this claim and, in many cases, actively endeavoured to remove this end-of-tour game from the calendar. Thankfully their negative efforts have been in vain and the importance of this unique rugby club was demonstrated again yesterday, perhaps more emphatically than ever before.

The crowd loved it, the players loved it and, if I am indicative of the rest of the tv audience, then tv viewers loved it also. Invited players have always claimed a special honour and a special experience in their preparation and game, joined as they are with their normal opponents, but, strangely, their views have tended to be ignored, and even dismissed, by the administrators of our game. Perhaps it’s sour grapes. Perhaps it’s a case of “How dare the players try to tell us how to run our game!” Whatever their reasons, surely yesterday’s occasion, both on the pitch and in the grandstands, has put to rest any argument against the continuation of this vital fixture. And I do mean “vital”, for it is vital to remind us all that the game is more important than the result.

It was a great match. New Zealand, although resting many of the first choice players, still managed to field McCaw and Sivivatu, and, for my money, only Daniel Carter is more important than this pair, to the All Black performance.  There was plenty of niggle too and no-one doubted that both teams were desperate for the win.

The Barbarians, on the other hand, had assembled many “World XV” players, but, with only a week of necessarily light preparation together, the question was always there, “Can a class team beat a team of class players?” Certainly in last year’s match, a young Wallaby team was able to defeat an equally impressive Babas assembly.

This was a quality performance from the Babas and their superstars fittingly led the way. At the first lineout, the amazing Victor Matfield stole the All Blacks throw. At the first tackle contest, the All Black ball was stolen – by, you guessed it, George Smith. Rocky Elsom continued his stunningly consistent form and his physicality alone inspired his fellow forwards. My player of the year, Fourie du Preez, was back to his best. Matt Giteau was as good as any on the field, including the great Bryan Habana. There are any number of top quality wings in world rugby at the moment – including two new arrivals in the New Zealand team, Zac Guildford and Ben Smith – but Bryan Habana is at the very top of the list. He scored three tries and that’s what great wingers do.

There were three Italian players in the Babas twenty-two. Two, prop Salvatore Perugini and lock Carlo del Fava, started and Quintin Geldenhuys replaced del Fava in the second half. That three forwards from the Italian pack could win places in this star-studded Babas pack says much for the Italian team’s development and it would not surprise if Italy were to take a scalp or two in the up-coming Six Nations Championship.

Five nations in all were assembled under coach Nick Mallett, previously with South Africa and now with Italy, and he was assisted by his countryman Alan Solomons. The referee, Christophe Bertos, was from France. All in all, a wonderful International occasion, and continued proof of the massive growth of the game of rugby.

New Zealand also played their part to the full. They fielded many young players, but we’ll see a lot more of most of them in the coming year or two. Indeed, after a slow start to the year – understandable with the absence of perhaps the two current outstanding players of world rugby in Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw – they have developed slowly but surely, and, despite their loss in this match, have finished their season on a high. The biggest problem that I can see for them is selection. People often say that this is a problem that we’d all like to have, but it is a problem. Selection is a subjective task; you can get it wrong and that can punish you.

Their scrum and lineout have improved, but neither phase is world class yet. Elsewhere, all around the park, they are number one in my assessment. Importantly, their game is a joy to watch and, I’m sure, a joy to play. They do all of the so-called “easy” things very well. They have pace, skill and aggression. This will serve the game - and not only the New Zealand game – very well.

Wonderfully, the curtain comes down on the northern hemisphere Autumn International Series with another great Barbarians match. Long may it continue.

bobdwyerrugby.com

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