Absence of English stars disappoints New Zealand chief Hansen
BARBARIANS coach Robbie Deans claims England missed a trick by not releasing their players for yesterday’s All Blacks showpiece.
The invitational side approached George Kruis, Jonathan Joseph, James Haskell and Semesa Rokoduguni but were turned down over fears of injury ahead of the autumn internationals.
‘It’s a great shame,’ said Deans. ‘In a year, 23 England players will be facing the All Blacks. It was a great opportunity for them to experience playing at that level. There were some positive early conversations but it morphed into a bit of resistance. The players all wanted to do it but felt a little bit of pressure that they might compromise themselves.’
The Kiwi-dominated Barbarians team only assembled on Monday, but they were ahead for 53 minutes. Eventually they were undone by quick-fire tries from Ngani Luamape, Sam Cane and Nathan Harris.
It provided an ideal warm-up for the All Blacks ahead of their autumn Tests, but head coach Steve Hansen admitted: ‘It would have been nice to get some English players.’
Baa-Baas No 10 Richie Mo’unga opened the scoring after nine minutes, before George Bridge added the second when Steven Luatua, currently with Pat Lam at second-tier Bristol intercepted a loose pass from scrum-half TJ Perenara.
Perenara made amends for his error three minutes later; collecting a slick offload from Waisake Naholo to squeeze over.
Harold Vorster channelled the Baa-Baas off-the-cuff spirit and, after 30 minutes, Sam Carter extended the lead. But flanker Vaea Fifita struck back and, in the second half, the All Blacks improved and took it close to Test match intensity.
The three-try burst sealed the victory – but the Barbarians had the final toast when Bridge scored with the last play.
BarBarians: Bridge, J Savea, Buckman, Vorster, Aso, Mo’unga, Ellis, van Rooyen, Strauss, Moli, Carter, Bird, Luatua, K Smith, Whitelock. reps: Van der Merwe, Franks, R Smith, Britz, Ackermann, Drummond, Du Preez, Hunt.
scorers: Tries: Mo’unga, Bridge 2, Carter. Cons: Mo’unga. new Zealand: Havili, Naholo, Liernert-Brown, Laumape, Tamanivalu, B Barrett, Perenara, Kaino, A Savea, Fifita, S Barrett, Romano, Tu’ungafasi, Harris, Hames. reps: Aumua, Perry, Toomaga-Allen, Tuipulotu, Cane,Kerr-Barlow, Sopoaga, Duffie. scorers: Tries: Perenara, Fifita, S Barrett, Laumape, Aumua. Cons: B Barrett 3.