By nicknelo -
December 7th 2009 @ 8:02am
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Loading ...Barbarians success should be used as a template for a World Cup evolution
Imagine the contest of the World Cup winning team to play one additional final game in the tournament: the victors taking on a Rest of the World team the following week.
All the best players from the World Cup would be voted on and form a team to then play the winners of the World Cup.
We have seen the success of the famous Barbarians matches, not only in watching running rugby at its best but also how it revitalizes the players through the bonds they make with their new team mates.
And, most importantly the players are relaxed, just wanting to express themselves, have a crack, and actually play some running rugby. That is the real spirit of the game, not to kick but to run, so we need to get back to that, and the Baa-Baas shows us how.
Rugby before it went professional was all about playing for the love of the game, playing for your mates and making new mates.
Professionalism has drained Rugby of a lot of the ingredients that made it successful in the first place, its soul.
This is what we watch the game for, it’s entertainment value, a contest, not of conservative rugby but of some of the best athletes on the planets taking a chance and running with the ball.
Every time David Campese touched the ball you knew he would try something. Habana last night showed this, as with Sivivatu. We need more of these players and we need the right environment for them to express themselves.
Watching Gits last night was interesting, he played conservative at times, kicking, but then seemed to evolve as the game when on, and played with more imagination.
This was evident in a lot of the players. They started expressing themselves, making for highly watchable Rugby, the Rugby that people want to see.
We need to see more of it.
This happened because there was less pressure then that of playing for your country, the stakes where a lot less but also the crowd expected you to run with it and not kick it as this is the spirit of the Baa-Baas. What else can we do with this spirit, as we need it back in our beloved sport of rugby?
Most World Cup finals fail to live up to the hype, they are conservative matches which each team is so scared of stuffing up that they go into their shells and play a numbers game, what a poor representation of the game on the World stage, the one great chance that comes around every four years and lasts just 80 minutes.
Why can’t we have a rugby game played in the true spirit of the game, showing the world the true potential of the sport? A game played in the Baa-Baas spirit.
The ingredients of this kind of spectacle are truly awesome and unmatched in the history of the game.
You have the newly crowned World Cup Champions, who have already proved themselves but would still dearly like to win against a Rest of the World team. The other team would be made up of the very best of all the other teams in the World Cup, including new, exciting players teaming up with the world’s best established players, hoping to make up for their World Cup defeat by knocking of the world champs.
All played in an environment which is more relaxed, without the huge pressure of letting your country down.
We witnessed first hand what an enthralling spectacle this kind of relaxed environment creates in the game against the All Blacks and the Baa-Baas, let’s take it to the world stage and show what is possible.
Playing a for the Baa-Baas means that the crowd expect for you to run with it rather then kick possession away. The crowd actually boos if you decide to kick for goal.
Rugby needs these marketing stories, and the administrators need to loosen up. Why are they so conservative? Why do they not want to experiment? Why don’t they act with more passion for the game?
They need to try things and see what opportunities arise. Or they will harm the huge potential that rugby holds. A truly global sport, which is unique in the way it combines skill and courage, a game for people of all physical attributes, shapes and sizes.
Watching the Baa-Baas last night not only provided for one of the most entertaining complete spectacles but also a great insight in what it means to the players. The All Blacks’ Richie McCaw was pretty upset to lose that one and the Baa-Baas reacted as if they had one the world cup, and the crowd were cheering the whole time, enjoying some genuine entertainment for a change. We saw rugby at its best, with players willing to have a crack.
David Campese always bangs on and on about players kicking to much and not having more of a crack. I agree! I would rather watch a team with the courage and imagination of Campo, than win and play ugly.
David Campese played rugby in the true spirit of the game, he played every game like a Baa-Baas match. Campo was always good to watch, because take took chances, these make for memorable occasions and games. Just like he shoots off with his comments in the media – also highly entertaining – he at least has a crack, and thank god! Because rugby is very boring without him.
Maybe this World Cup evolution could be used more for our domestic comps as well or even our national comps like the Tri Nations and Super 14. Rugby needs a platform where the professional pressure is released and the fun and excitement of the sport is injected back in. We could have the winner of the super 14 take on the best from all the other teams, that would be worth watching.
Let me know your thoughts and any other ways you might see this working.
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(12)
PastHisBest said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Try ‘Baa Baa’s’ NN.
Lindommer said | December 7th 2009 @ 5:42pm | Report comment
PHB, off to apostrophe remediation class for you.
Try “BaaBaas”.
nicknelo said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Thanks PastHisBest, I should have researched that a tad better! And it does not look like I can go in and edit it, I need that as I’m a terrible speller etc… What did you think of the idea?
PastHisBest said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:46am | Report comment
Good on you for putting it up but I don’t like the idea on a number of fronts. It may spin money but that’s all this idea has going for it.
Bay35Pablo said | December 7th 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Winner v RoW would be about as meaningless as the 3 v 4 play off.
So if we turn rugby into U-7s, and get rid of the scores, it will be played more free flowing? They play tight because it matters more.
Hayden said | December 7th 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
I think the game would be largely meaningless, like the NFL All Star game. I cannot imagine the WC winners giving a toss after a week of partying, and I am sure the Best of the Rest would rather be on the beach somewhere trying to relax. That said, it does raise in my mind the thought of a NH vs SH ‘Lions’ series sometime. Seeing as how all major SH teams seem to be in the NH at the same time, how about doing it then. NH writers get to pick their team of the AIs, the SH do the same. Remember, you heard it here first.
King of the Gorganites said | December 7th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
put your mind to better use.
though, i think the baa baas is a great concept, and should be encouraged.
its ashame we dont have a southern hemisphere equilavent. can we create one?
Klestical said | December 7th 2009 @ 4:23pm | Report comment
I’ve also thought of using the BaBaas game better…except not for WC situations.
The Number 1 team of the current year should play the Babaas.
The makeup of the squad should be decided by public vote! There could also be a rule (e.g minimum 6 different nations etc) not just majority Aussies and Saffas!
AndyS said | December 7th 2009 @ 4:28pm | Report comment
The year should culminate in a NH Barbarians v SH Barbarians, last weekend in November…
ohtani's jacket said | December 7th 2009 @ 8:32pm | Report comment
I don’t think such a game should be played a week after the World Cup final. Who cares about extra fixtures in the wake of the final? Nevertheless, there’s potential in the Barbarians side that played on the weekend. It’s been a long time since the Barbarians fielded All-Star combinations in the manner that they did on Sat night. I’m not sure how you get 61,000 to a Barbarians match but they got their money’s worth.
katzilla said | December 8th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Yeah I don’t think the players would be up to it. Considering 1 team will be getting absolutely trashed having just won the world cup and a good portion of the rest will be comiserating having just lost the world cup.
Would that game have been as free flowing if it had been any other team playing the Baabaas then the ABs?
Would it have been free flowing if they didn’t have the All Stars that were provided (we saw how rubbish the Baabaas were in June when they played the Wallabies with a lesser team)
pothale said | December 10th 2009 @ 1:53am | Report comment
Well the Barbarians have announced today their next round of games for their Summer tour – England first up on May 28/29, and then Ireland in Thomond Park on June 4. Doug Howlett, Jean de Villers and Paul Warwick of Munster have already been invited.