Barbarians grab win in ‘crazy game’
Damian Mckenzie completed the ultimate stand-off performance with a 38m drop goal to see the Barbarians snatch a 31-30 victory over Bath Rugby at the Rec on Sunday afternoon.
The All Black fly-half starred for the invitational side in a rare but highly entertaining clash between the two sides.
Post match, head of rugby Johann van Graan admitted Mckenzie was the difference between the two sides.
He said: “He is phenomenal. I watched him play a few weeks ago for the All Blacks XV v Ireland A and he was majestic.
“I have coached against him at Test level as well and he has got so much time on the ball, great feet, a kicking game, passing game - he is one of the best players in the world.
“It was a crazy game, the lead changed hands so many times, then the storm and rain came in but we ended up in sunshine. It was very close right to the end but what a drop goal from Damian Mckenzie.
“Sometimes you have just got to say well done.
“The game was played in a very good spirit, both sides wanted to play. It was a match in the true Barbarians spirit.
“That said every game we play we want to win, that is why we took the points right at the end.”
Amongst an array of players from Worcester Warriors and Wasps in the Barbarians ranks, following the two Premiership sides sinking into administration, a smattering of top Southern hemisphere talent shone through.
Outstanding centre Levi Aumua, of Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika, opened the scoring as the Baabaas caught the hosts cold with AJ Lam slipping an attempted tackle from Max Ojomoh to break the resolve of the Bath defence; quick hands saw Aumua race away for a score after 65 seconds.
Tom de Glanville, returning from a hamstring injury, hit back with a dubious score as he showed no signs of having lost a yard of pace to win the race onto Matt Gallagher’s kick to touch it down in the dead ball area.
The Blue, Black and White took the lead through Miles Reid who powered over after taking a good offload from Orlando Bailey but moments later a loose pass from the Bath fly-half hit the deck and Aumua showed poise and pace to scoop up the ball and race in untouched from 60m out - finishing with a superb swan dive only to skid off the turf and smash into the advertising hoardings.
But the sides went in level at 14-14.
Two minutes into the second half Bath showed their intent to win the contest at entertainment’s cost by pointing to the posts when awarded a penalty in range of the sticks.
Bailey converted to give his side the lead, but it was Lam made a fool of the Bath defence as he beat four defenders to score in the corner after a perfect, pin-point cross-field kick from master puppeteer Mckenzie.
Bailey, Gallagher, Jonathan Joseph and Bailey again, were the men left trailing in fast-footed Lam’s wake.
With half an hour remaining, Johann van Graan emptied his high quality bench with the likes of Joe Cokanasiga, Ollie Lawrence and Ted Hill introduced.
Seven minutes later and Cokanasiga was over in the corner with simple quick hands exposing the the fact the Barbarians had been sucked too narrow in defence to try and combat the short pick and drive game from the home pack.
Magician Mckenzie was soon at it again though as he took the ball flat to the line but some how still had the time and ability to throw a 20m, four man miss-pass to Lam to dance in near the left corner flag.
Having retaken the lead, 28-22, Barbarians head coach Scott Robinson brought on the now retired Bath legend Matt Banahan for a highly popular camero.
With seven minutes remaining the Blue, Black and White closed the gap with a powerful driving maul from a 5m lineout putting Wesley White over the tryline, but Bailey was unable to add the extras to lead the English side trailing by one point.
But with a minute left on the clock Bath were awared a penalty about 24m out from the posts and after some consultation, Bailey pointed to the posts - causing a chorus of boos from the crowd who wanted some more entertainment, but the cheers soon rose up as the young fly-half slotted the kick to make it 30-28.
The hosts thought they had snuck the victory, by Mckenzie had other plans and landed a drop goal that will long be remembered by all those at the Rec.