Thursday, December 04, 2008
Star studded Barbarians beaten by the Wallabies
Jerry Collins and Schalk Burger of the Baa Baas were particularly committed to the cause as they threw their bodies around the field with very little self regard.
Despite the intimidating number of big names they were up against, Australia got off to a early lead of 13-0, thanks to taking some kicks at goal, even with the crowd booing them.
As much as the Barbarians threw at them though, the Wallabies soaked up, eventually forcing the scratch side to kick for poles themselves.
At 13-6 at halftime, the game was looking like it could go either way, and after the Barbarians were twice denied tries by the video referee, it took a try set up by Shane Williams and scored by Jerry Collins to bring the scores closer.
Young flyhalf Francois Steyn had a match hed rather forget, missing wayward drop goals and vital kicks for goal as his side had a real chance of taking the lead.
In the end it was the Wallabies though who soaked up all the Baa Baas pressure with some incredible defence, eventually turning over a ball and scoring through replacement winger Lachie Turner two minutes from fulltime.
Their first try came from an excellent piece of skill from Ryan Cross, setting up the run in for Lote Tuqiri.
An entertaining game all in all, errors cost the Barbarians the win, but it was sweet success for a Wallaby side that featured a few second stringers who got a deserved chance to shine after a long tour.
Time: 03:56
Posted at 12:59 pm | 31 comments
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Viewing 31 comments
Anonymous December 04, 2008 1:12 pm
Last Wallaby try came off a forward pass...no doubt...they still deserved to sneak it though...Burger was my man of the match...
Matt December 04, 2008 1:40 pm
Is the forward pass in the clip? I didn't see it...It was the first high level rugby match I'd seen in person and it was a bloody entertaining game, seemed like there were a lot more tries than there actually were and some bloody big hits. The players looked a lot smaller than I expected though. Maybe cameramen are all shorties.
ryebye December 04, 2008 1:41 pm
what a game of rugby! for a low scoring match i absolutely loved it, Austalias defence was outstanding some real real big hits! And Burger oh my some of them boshes were monsterus! great game loved it!
Olann December 04, 2008 2:02 pm
Thought Steyn was awful in this game. Every time he decided to hang on to the ball and run (which was a lot), he just jumped from side to side and got creamed. His repeated drop goal attempts were a waste of possession, and his kicking for goal was rubbish. I was a big fan when he came on the scene, but he seems to have stagnated a bit.
Patrick December 04, 2008 3:24 pm
I'm with Olann, Steyn had a nightmare. He's way better at 12 than 10. Would have been great to see Carter playing last night, or even Ruan Pienaar would have done a better job.
Anonymous December 04, 2008 3:36 pm
why baa'bas have no more the hometeam socks? another tradition that is passed away?at least the new jersey has no sponsors
The 80s Guy December 04, 2008 4:23 pm
The match has been organised as part of the British Olympic Association's celebrations of the centenary of the first Olympics in London, where the Games will return in four years' time.Australia took the rugby union gold medal in 1908 with a 32-3 victory over Great Britain, represented by the south west English county of Cornwall.That's why all the players wore Cornwall's socks.
Anonymous December 04, 2008 4:24 pm
they were wearing cornish socks to mark the 100th anniversary of australia beating gb in the london 1908 olympics, where cornwall provided gb's players.Can you get the massive hits, bust up into the hoardings, williams on his head, the aussie replacement prop vertical on his head in a ruck, aussie pack getting smashed and a few other highlights up? I realise it's a big ask, but that match had everything, the tries weren't theb best bits.
Anarchangel December 04, 2008 4:26 pm
Nah no forward pass, just a well taken try, especially the swerve inside to leave the outside man marked by only a lock.Bring back the socks, for sure.
Anarchangel December 04, 2008 4:28 pm
(Just read the Cornwall posts.)That's a good enough reason for me!
Alain December 04, 2008 4:55 pm
i agree steyn was poor..he shud stick to 12 or 15...and learn to kick 4 poles
Anonymous December 04, 2008 5:11 pm
The Shane Williams move was fantastic, time stopped for a moment there. Looks more dangerous than Rokocoko and Habana when coming on, but suffered in contact with the hard hitting Australian defence.And yes Steyn was terrible, not a fly half at all, stop with the non-stop drop goal attempts.
Ben December 04, 2008 5:52 pm
Was watching the game, really entertaining despite being rather low score. And gotta agree with all those above, Steyn just had a shocker of a game. I think, anybody else playing fly half at this level would have been more successful yesterday. Great Australian defense, gotta be said.
Tim December 04, 2008 9:34 pm
Anyone know why they did the uncontested scrums in the last part of the game?Saw the game without sound so i couldn't tell.
Anonymous December 04, 2008 10:48 pm
It's always interesting to me how a "star studded" side can't manage to beat a side that is perhaps less talented on paper. It goes to show you that it comes down to how well you play together. Just look at Toulon....
Matt_Drinks_New December 04, 2008 11:17 pm
Forward pass my ass - initial movement of the ball was backwardsUncontested scrums were because Dunning ruptured his achilles and Kepu tore his pec.Wallabies are having a go at the ground surface - apparently it divoted and tore up pretty badFun game though, the difference between the Baa Baas from when they last played and beat the Boks (post World Cup) is that they had Giteau at 10 then. Shame for Steyn, poor game. What a line up though, having Burger, McCaw and Smith on the ground - 3 best flankers in the world.
Dune December 04, 2008 11:32 pm
Wonder why Wembley sells out for an NFL game, a "non-native game", yet is barely half full for a showpiece game of rugby like this? Oh well. Looks and sounds from other comments on here like a pretty good game.
SA supporter December 05, 2008 12:50 am
Steyn showed so much promise when he first came onto the scene.. but it seems to be all going downhill now... hope something takes a turn for the better and somehow he manages to fix it.
V99 December 05, 2008 1:29 am
Is it me? Or were all those tries really weak? Rocokoco wasn't even trying in that first try, it's like he wanted them to score. Collins try came off a girl looking pass from Williams.Last try was pretty good though.
Anonymous December 05, 2008 1:30 am
Collins looks like he's lost a lot of mass
Rancid December 05, 2008 12:03 pm
Dune;Maybe Wembley sells out for an NFL game because it happens once a year.In the same way the WWF wrestling company can sell it out, because of how few times people get to go.It's quite a simple concept. Not to mention the money the NFL spend on advertising this one game is phenominal. If the rugby governing body made half the effort to promote our game we'd quite easily see a 10-20% rise in popularity.
durrie December 05, 2008 4:58 pm
I'm glad Steyn played 10 in this game because it has hoepfully put the hair brained idea that he can play there to bed!It was sad for this particular game but Steyn is not a player with natural rugby brains nor any great ability to read a game which you need to be a great 10...Pienaar has more 10 qualities in his pinky finger than Steyn has in his entire vacinity.Steyn is a bruising juggernaught type of player...perfect for 12 but I believe more suited to 15. If only he would wake up and accept that rugby is a team sport then his raw talent would start to blossom...he is still way to selfish and pig headed...just young I suppose...?
Anonymous December 06, 2008 3:34 am
Habana & Rokocoko were disapointing in my eyes. They just didnt seem as though they had much desire to play well.Shane Williams seemed more hungry to be at his best.
Placador December 06, 2008 7:12 am
Who is number 14 playng for the barbarians?
Anonymous December 09, 2008 4:25 am
not surprising the aussies won,u cant just get a team full of great players who havnt played together and expect them to play amazingly..
Dune December 17, 2008 1:08 am
Isn't it interesting that the last two times Jake White has been involved with a Barbarians match, his team has been on the losing side.@Rancid, it's not as if Barbarians matches of that calibre are played very often either it is. Altho you have a point about the advertising, Americans being experts at it.
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