Preview: Barbarians v South Africa
Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:04
It's hard to believe in this match. The nature of the Barbarians is radically changed and the South Africans are on a fund-raising exercise. But it is just the sixth time the two teams have met and there is always a frisson of excitement at the thought of the Barbarians, however changed they may be. The Barbarians were about tours and the amateur ethos. The amateur ethos has flown far away from top rugby, and one wonders what Percy Carpmael, Sammy Woods and the other founding fathers, Emile de Lissa, Jock Wemyss, Bishop Carey and other idealists would have thought about today's proceedings. They formed the Barbarians to give themselves a bit more rugby because they enjoyed it, "attacking rugby in an atmosphere of good comradeship and fun". No longer are they extending the fun of the season; now they have to fight to prise players from clubs. The Barbarians captain is in defiance of his club to play. No longer is the team made mainly of players from the four Home Unions with the delightful idiosyncrasy of one uncapped player and the occasional election of the captain of an overseas touring team as an honour. The Barbarians who play the Springboks on Saturday have 15 of their 22 from south of the equator. Add to them they have retired or semi-retired players in Jason Robinson, Martyn Williams and Ben Cohen. But they have preserved the tradition of having an uncapped player - Salesi Ma'afu, the Brumbies prop. But is it in fact all gone? Barbarian president Herbert Waddell once said: "We are, of course, tremendously keen to win but we have not got all the inhibitions, national or otherwise, which are inevitably involved in an international match. When we are beaten nobody goes about in sackcloth." These Barbarians will want to win. New Zealanders and Australians always want to win and after their early exit from the World Cup they will want to bloody the noses of the world champions. The Springboks will want to win and have paid the Barbarians the compliment of picking their best available team, six of them in that XV from the World Cup Final. It will be coach Jake White's last match as the Springbok coach. Both sides may thus be "tremendously keen to win". But in the end the result does not matter all that intensely. It is not a Test match. Barbarian matches never have been Test matches. Always there is the hope that 1973 will be revisited - that astonishing match between the Barbarians and the All Blacks in Cardiff and the try sent from heaven that Gareth Edwards finished. Barbarian matches have, sadly, not always been like that. There have been times when the Barbarians gritted their teeth and set out to win regardless of how dour the means would be. That is unlikely to happen at Twickenham on Saturday. There is so much skill and panache in the players of each side that it could just be a glorious spectacle to match 1973's. Both sides could strive by all means to win, but if the "all means" include a sense of adventure then we should have a game to remember. Then most of the players can pack their boots away and head south to holiday warmth. In 1973 the referee was French. Is it a good omen that this match's referee is also French? The Barbarians have a brilliant set of backs, every one an exciting runner. Getting ball may well be a bit of a problem but then the Springbok tight five has only CJ van der Linde from their starting pack. The Barbarians' overseas-based Australian locks, Justin Harrison and Brent Cockbain, should be able to cope with Johan Muller and aged Johan Ackermann. They may find it tougher in the front row but then it may be a match of few scrums. Players to Watch: You will want to watch Jason Robinson as it may just be the last time you see those feet dancing on a rugby field. But every one of that Barbarians backline will be worth watching. Every single one of them is capable of running opponents ragged. On the South African side you would love to see Bryan Habana on the run. You would want to see François Steyn stepping, and you would want to see the star flanks of the World Cup in action - Juan Smith and Schalk Burger. There are lots of players to watch. Head to head: The most interesting conflict may well be between the two sets of loose forwards - Jerry Collins, Ricky Elsom and Martyn Williams of the Barbarians against promising rookie Ryan Kankowski, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith of the Springboks. There could also be a lot of fun if Enrico Januarie and Justin Marshall ruffle each other's feathers. Previous results: They are not relevant to this match but they are here as a matter of record. 1952: Springboks won 17-3 at Cardiff Arms Park 1961: Barbarians won 6-0 at Cardiff Arms Park 1970: Springboks won 21-12 at Twickenham 1994: Barbarians won 23-15 at Lansdowne Road 2000: Springboks won 41-31 at Millennium Stadium Prediction: History says it is the Barbarians' turn. Let's say by two points in a high-scoring game. Teams Barbarians: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Isoa Neivua, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Jerry Collins, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Justin Harrison, 4 Brent Cockbain, 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Mark Regan (captain), 1 Frederico Pucciarello. Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 JD Moller, 18 Troy Flavell, 19 Michael Owen, 20 Tom Shanklin, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Ben Cohen. South Africa: 15 Ruan Pienaar, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 François Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 André Pretorius, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Johan Ackermann, 4 Johann Muller (captain), 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 CJ van der Linde. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Barend Pieterse, 20 Wynand Olivier, 21 Wayne Julies, 22 Conrad Jantjes. Date: Saturday, 1 December Kick-off: 15.00 GMT (17.00 SA time) Venue: Twickenham, London Conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 10°C, dropping to 5°C and a southwester of 28 km/h freshening. Referee: Christophe Berdos (France) Touch judges: Romain Poite (France), Rob Debney (England) Television match official: David Changleng (Scotland) Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England)
