Barbarians 25 New Zealand 18:JAMIE ROBERTS hopes his role in the Barbarians' second ever victory over New Zealand will help his Dad come to terms with missing a match billed as the greatest of all time.
Victor Matfield’s Barbarians took their place alongside the fabled class of 1973 by inflicting the solitary defeat of New Zealand’s autumn tour with a 25-18 triumph at Twickenham on Saturday.
As a spectacle the match failed to rescale the heights of Cardiff Arms Park 36 years ago but Bryan Habana’s hat-trick in the 10th meeting between the sides gave the occasion a sprinkling of stardust. And Wales centre Roberts hopes yesterday’s result will offer some consolation to his father Norman, who was forced to miss the 1973 showdown.
“My Dad told me before I joined up with the Barbarians that he had a ticket for the 1973 game but couldn’t go it because of work commitments,” he said. “It’s his greatest regret in rugby not going to a match that has been labelled the best ever game. Hopefully I’ve done him some justice with this win.”
Habana’s dazzling hat-trick stole the show against a second-string New Zealand side led by their newly-crowned world player of the year Richie McCaw.
Particularly impressive was the Barbarians’ cohesion considering their lack of time together, putting England’s turgid displays this autumn into perspective.
Martin Johnson has enjoyed unparalleled access to his players yet disjointed England have toiled on the pitch, while Barbarians coach Nick Mallett produced a winning side in seven days.
“What was really pleasing for me was to see a Barbarians side that came together on Sunday, which had two training sessions if you could call them that, yet didn’t look different to a Test team,” said Mallett. “It’s interesting to see that this group of players looked like a Test side that had been together for a couple of months when they put their mind to it. It was incredible.”
BARBARIANS: Mitchell; Rokocoko, Fourie, Roberts, Habana; Giteau, du Preez; Smith, Burger, Elsom, Matfield, Del Fava, Nel, du Plessis, Perugini. Replacements: Steyn for Mitchell (57), Halfpenny for Habana (70), Genia for du Preez (62), Powell for Elsom (57), Geldenhuys for Del Fava (52), Moore for du Plessis (41), Mtawarira for Perugini (41).
NEW ZEALAND: Jane; B Smith, Ellison, McAlister, Guildford; Donald, Leonard; So’oialo, McCaw, Messam, Boric, Eaton, Afoa, Flynn, Crockett. Replacements: Sivivatu for Ellison (42), Thomson for Guildford (64), Delany for Donald (42), Latimer for McCaw (41), Cowan for Boric (76), Tialata for Crockett (67). Not Used: Hore.
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France).
