Baabaas relishing their shot at the Lions
Talk about a well-chosen opening foe for the last great touring team of world rugby. It is appropriate, on so many levels, that Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions will kick off their visit to New Zealand by embracing the great tradition that is the Barbarians.
In many ways the two teams who will line up at Whangarei’s Toll Stadium next Saturday night are twin survivors from a bygone era of the sport. Anachronisms, peddling old-fashioned virtues in the modern, money-first world of professional rugby. They are very much fighting the good fight.
The Lions, of course, have had to adapt to survive on the contemporary landscape. They still gather the finest of the Home Unions every four years to make their lengthy, outmoded treks south, except these days it’s an enormous venture that makes a truckload of money for host and visitor alike. Commercial realities have changed the beast just a little.
But the Baabaas, bless their cotton club socks, remain virtually untainted by the inexorable tide of the professional game.
They’re a club with an Eden Park home but no league to play in. With a bulging membership of over 500 but no players under contract. They generate money, yet promptly give it all away in the name of spreading the gospel of rugby.
The Lions say they want to embrace the touring traditions of a bygone era during the next six weeks in New Zealand. As part of that, they’re keen to reintroduce the visit to opponents’ changing rooms after matches to clasp muddied paws on shoulders and toast the battle well fought.
The Barbarians’ door will be ajar next Saturday night in Whangarei. Any team that gathers under their banner has two important principles to adopt: play the game
If you've got a decent knowledge of New Zealand rugby you'd know most of these guys have come through the age-group system. They're either semi-pro or professional players and they'll bring a lot of youth and enthusiasm that will count for a lot. Baabaas coach Clayton McMillan
in the right spirit, and then enjoy it afterwards in the very same manner.
The Lions’ opener, really, is a brief sashay down memory lane before the real stuff begins in earnest. It is entirely appropriate that the Kiwi lineup will feature none other than the touring coach’s son.
The Barbarians, under the guise of a New Zealand provincial selection, are comprised of the sort of players who once would have been afforded this career high point on a much wider scale. Now with tighter schedules, and Super Rugby franchises eager to join the experience, the squeeze has gone on these type of fixtures.
On this tour, tagged the toughest itinerary ever undertaken by a visiting side, the Lions will play three tests against the All Blacks, a virtual fourth against New Zealand Maori, and all five Kiwi Super Rugby franchises.
That leaves just the Baabaas opener as a chance for the provincial battler, or aspiring pro, to cross swords against the northern invaders. Coach Clayton McMillan assembled his squad on Saturday and will have a week to prepare the earthy mix into a rugby team capable of footing it with some of the best players on the planet.
‘‘One of my mates gave me a call to say we’re at massive odds on the TAB and expected to lose by 30-odd points,’’ said McMillan of the task at hand. ‘‘I think we’d be having a bad day at the office if we lose by that sort of score.
‘‘If you’ve got a decent knowledge of New Zealand rugby you’d know most of these guys have come through the age-group system. They’re either semi-pro or professional players and they’ll bring a lot of youth and enthusiasm that will count for a lot.
‘‘We’d be setting ourselves up for a massive failure if we tried to fight fire with fire. The game is tailormade for us to give the players scope to express themselves. We go out with every intention of winning, but on the flipside we don’t want people burdened by the prospect of losing.
‘‘There are no points at stake. The only thing we’ve got to lose is not doing justice to the Barbarians jersey and not meeting our own expectations.’’
Barbarians club president Ron Williams is just grateful his organisation has been afforded this chance to unfurl its banner. It’s important they continue to trot out teams on occasions like this, because it helps in the work they do raising money for schools and grassroots rugby.
For all the challenges they face, Williams says New Zealand’s Barbarians club is ‘‘surviving and thriving’’.
He adds: ‘‘You find your place. We’re happy with what we’re doing and how we’re going about things. We’ve got a really good membership, some neat people from all walks of life, and we’re doing some good things for rugby.’’
Next? Williams shrugs and suggests maybe it’s time for a tour to the UK and to reconnect with their British brethren. There’s also a fundraising Rugby Ties gala dinner on July 6 in Auckland. But first things first.
The Lions only arrive in New Zealand on Wednesday. Three days later they play what’s expected to be a jaunty hitout. The Baabaas will have other ideas. Either way, it’s the perfect start to this tour of tours.