Razor’s Barbarians edge All Blacks XV
Scott Robertson will have particularly enjoyed that – a four-point win over the team New Zealand Rugby wanted him to coach a couple of years ago.
The Robertson-coached Barbarians beat the Leon MacDonald-coached All Blacks XV 35-31 in a 10-try thriller in London yesterday, ensuring the recently minted New Zealand team split its first two matches.
MacDonald’s All Blacks XV had a chance to pinch the match at the death, only for Barbarians flanker Wenceslas Lauret to go up and swipe Andrew Makalio’s lineout throw five metres from the line.
It sealed the win, another for Robertson over Blues coach MacDonald, one the Barbarians defended grimly for in the final 10 minutes, after Bailyn Sullivan scooped up a loose ball and ran in a long
range try to pull the Kiwis to within striking distance.
Reunited with assistant coach Ronan O’Gara, who played a big hand in the Crusaders’ Super Rugby crowns in 2018 and 2019, Robertson had a bunch of New Zealanders in his lineup, including captain and former Crusader and Highlander Luke Whitelock.
Fellow former All Blacks George Bridge, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Charlie Ngatai also represented the Barbarians, who played with the care-free and expansive style they’re renowned for.
That was especially on show for wing
Teddy Thomas’ 51st minute try, a peach which he helped setup by hacking a grubber in-field for centre Joe Marchant, who popped the final offload from the deck after he was dragged down short.
Substitute halfback Rhys Webb’s 59th minute try – he dummied and sniped from close range – gave the Barbarians a 35-24 lead with 20 to play, one they had a chance to extend in the final quarter.
However, their willy-nilly style comes with errors, and allowed the Kiwis to roar back into the game they started so well.