Friday, December 03, 2010
Classic Encounters - French Barbarians vs Tonga in Grenoble
The French Barbarians side is an invitational team that was made up of players that play domestically in France. They fielded a strong lineup, with no less than 13 internationally capped players, including the likes of Byron Kelleher, Cedric Heymans, George Smith, Mathieu Bastareaud, and the man everyone wanted to see, Rupeni Caucaunibuca.
Tonga were playing their final tour match after previously beating Italy A 16-9. They came back from being 27-9 down against the Barbarians side to take claim an impressive 28-27 win.
French replacement Benoit Baby had a chance to win the game with time up, but he hit the post, resulting in a famous win for the tourists that theyll take a lot of confidence from.
Late tries from Viliami Helu, Mateo Malupo, and Ueleni Fono, as well as an all important conversion got them the win. The Barbarians scored a wonderful try through Carl Hayman, and Caucau also crossed. Two missed opportunities late in the game from poor passes, by scrumhalf Kelleher, ultimately proved costly in the end.
It was a great game whatever the result, with real ambition shown throughout. Enjoy.
Time: 07:11
French Barbarians: 15 Cderic Heymans, 14 Rupeni Caucaunibuca, 13 Mathieu Basteraud, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Chris Masoe, 6 George Smith, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Rob Linde, 3 Sylvain Marconnet, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Daan Human
Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Mateo Malupo, 13 Alaska Taufa, 12 Andrew Ma'ilei, 11 Viliami Helu, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Samiu Vahafolau, 7 Finau Maka, 6 Tukulua Lokotui, 5 Emosi Kauhenga, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Ephraim Taufaka, 1 Tonga Lea'aetoa
Posted at 12:02 pm | 36 comments
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Viewing 36 comments
Anonymous December 03, 2010 12:35 pm
Gay above.
Great game, proper Baba's rugby!
Good to see tonga get the win though
Great game, proper Baba's rugby!
Good to see tonga get the win though
Anonymous December 03, 2010 12:54 pm
Kelleher fucked everything...but it would have been bad to seen the barbarians win with a penalty kick or a drop goal.
Outside December 03, 2010 1:04 pm
Rupeni and Basteraud really look like they could be in the front row!! lol!! What and incredible line up for the Baba's!! I wished they pushed it more and became more high profile...
Anonymous December 03, 2010 3:08 pm
good to see a team like tonga winning games like this
Anonymous December 03, 2010 3:38 pm
How can Caucau move so fast for such a fat bastard? He's fatter than most props.
Anonymous December 03, 2010 4:05 pm
an amazing spectacle and great advertisment for running rugby
Flooz December 03, 2010 4:07 pm
Clerc, Heymans, Mermoz, Baby, Bastareaud with... Barbarians
Ok, i understand better why France lacked creativity vs Australia.
Lievremont really should change his mind!
He wants to find a good alchimy. But it won't work if you try new players each month.
France won the 2010 6N with world class backs like poitrenaud, clerc, mermoz, medard, Heymans, malzieu, dupuy, fall... Why did he refuse to install them??
France have the scrum. If Lievremont install the back leaders rather always change them, France will be part of the favorites for the rwc.
time to wake up guys
Ok, i understand better why France lacked creativity vs Australia.
Lievremont really should change his mind!
He wants to find a good alchimy. But it won't work if you try new players each month.
France won the 2010 6N with world class backs like poitrenaud, clerc, mermoz, medard, Heymans, malzieu, dupuy, fall... Why did he refuse to install them??
France have the scrum. If Lievremont install the back leaders rather always change them, France will be part of the favorites for the rwc.
time to wake up guys
Anonymous December 03, 2010 4:20 pm
It depresses me to see Caucau in that state, all that talent and pace just gone. all we get now is a fat guy standing in the shadow of his former self.
still glad he managed to score a try
still glad he managed to score a try
Anonymous December 03, 2010 5:43 pm
is it me or tonga's number 10 has the fisique of an 8th man?
Djshaft December 03, 2010 6:11 pm
Hello,
Where is caucau playing at the moment?
Is this game worth watching in the full, looks like plenty of good running rugby?
Also who was tonga's number 19?
Cheers
Conor
Where is caucau playing at the moment?
Is this game worth watching in the full, looks like plenty of good running rugby?
Also who was tonga's number 19?
Cheers
Conor
Maximus December 03, 2010 6:28 pm
Caucau is playing for Toulouse now.
Flooz, I totally agree.
Flooz, I totally agree.
Ben December 03, 2010 6:43 pm
hahaha, Caucau is unbelievable... Good lord, that is one chubby winger. that said, Basteraud is not the least bit better
Anonymous December 03, 2010 7:35 pm
@FLooz: Lievremont is not very smart, plain and simple. As a result, he has no vision, no logic, and makes bad choices after bad choices.
This side would have beaten France I reckon.
This side would have beaten France I reckon.
TB December 03, 2010 10:40 pm
I love the Barbarian spirit be it the black and white hoops (kind of English) or the French version. Could someone please tell me how many different "Barbarians" sides there are? I think I remember an Australian Barbarians once?
Anonymous December 03, 2010 10:42 pm
@Flooz: I disagree.
With Clerc,Mermoz,Heymans... it would have been the same result against the Aussies (or even worst with Bastareaud, imagine him in defence against players like Ashley-Cooper or O'connor).
Our players are not good enough and play too many matches.
With Clerc,Mermoz,Heymans... it would have been the same result against the Aussies (or even worst with Bastareaud, imagine him in defence against players like Ashley-Cooper or O'connor).
Our players are not good enough and play too many matches.
Gman December 03, 2010 11:27 pm
Flooz, my thoughts exactly. They would have lost but not so badly.
Canadian Content December 04, 2010 12:33 am
Great rugby, too bad it isn't played like this more often.
Bravo to Tonga as well. Boo to the poor fans who tried to distract the Tongan kicker during the conversion. And to les bas bas for trying to kick a penalty to win, not bas bas rugby.
Bravo to Tonga as well. Boo to the poor fans who tried to distract the Tongan kicker during the conversion. And to les bas bas for trying to kick a penalty to win, not bas bas rugby.
dutchrugbyplayer December 04, 2010 1:31 am
which one of the Wayans brothers is that on the left wing for the Barbarians??
Seamus December 04, 2010 2:32 am
What a FANTASTIC game... or at least the highlights were great. An outstanding effort from the Tongans against a Baba's side full of class.
Shame to see Caucau's such a fatty though.
Shame to see Caucau's such a fatty though.
CarloCoxxx December 04, 2010 11:09 am
I thought TOulouse wanted to make Caucau fit?? not even fatter!!
cant imagine i lost at least 1 kg since arriving at toulouse
cant imagine i lost at least 1 kg since arriving at toulouse
fuckfoxtel December 04, 2010 2:23 pm
does anyone know where i could catch todays baa baa v sa game in australia? Its not on foxtel and its not on setanta!!! what the fuck i got to do to watch a game here!!!! fuck you foxtel!!!! ........ i still dont feel better
Crosser December 04, 2010 4:45 pm
Funny, I thought Elissalde retired. It was cool to see his bootwork in that match.
Overall a pretty entertaining match.
@ Flooz and Maximus, at this point Lievremont should just take all the Toulouse backs and put them on the national side. They're the most cohesive combo he will have with less than a year before the RWC. It's a shame though because there are some very talented individuals throughout France.
Overall a pretty entertaining match.
@ Flooz and Maximus, at this point Lievremont should just take all the Toulouse backs and put them on the national side. They're the most cohesive combo he will have with less than a year before the RWC. It's a shame though because there are some very talented individuals throughout France.
Bruno December 04, 2010 7:37 pm
Just wondering, is the French press putting pressure on Lievremont to quit or not?
Ishmal December 05, 2010 9:57 am
Ouch, final kick to win the game only to hit the post.
Also see after the kick hit the post the Baabaa number 20 looking for options to his right and the number 9 comes in and poaches it and passes it left for a knock on! Impatience.
Also see after the kick hit the post the Baabaa number 20 looking for options to his right and the number 9 comes in and poaches it and passes it left for a knock on! Impatience.
Johnny December 05, 2010 3:02 pm
I think the French Baba's would have done a lot better had they wore better fitting jerseys! Looked like low level club rugby with those baggy uniforms!
Anonymous December 06, 2010 2:39 pm
Elissalde did retire, he is coaching the Toulouse backs now. But I guess he can put his rugby boots back on for a few matches with the Baa baas :)
Its a shame that payers such as Clerc and Heymans aren't called to play with France by Lievremont...
Good to see Mermoz back on the field; hope he'll come back in the french team soon :)
Thanks for the highlights !
Its a shame that payers such as Clerc and Heymans aren't called to play with France by Lievremont...
Good to see Mermoz back on the field; hope he'll come back in the french team soon :)
Thanks for the highlights !
people who comment " December 06, 2010 10:35 pm
Great win, thanks for suggesting I don't read the spoiler and watch the vid instead, well worth it!
Anonymous December 06, 2010 11:33 pm
Byron Kelleher still has it.
come back to NZ!
come back to NZ!
Nicko December 06, 2010 11:58 pm
what an awesome game!
so entertaining, good work by Tonga.
so entertaining, good work by Tonga.
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