Having watched the Wallabies versus Barbarians game this morning, I cannot help but feel renewed hope for rugby as a sport. This game had everything good rugby can offer: long range tries, ferocious tackling and competition for the ball.
There were some flared tempers and knowing smiles; ridiculous passes that make you laugh out loud when they come off, or throw your head back in frustration when they do not; and a referee who understands the rules and how best to apply them.
Watching George Smith wage a one man war against McCaw, Burger, and Collins (until Pocock came on) and coming out on top. Seeing Burger show no regard for his or anyone else’s welfare by charging at the line with frightening force and seeing the Wallabies know this was going to happen but stand there anyway.
Seeing Pocock come on and make tackle after tackle, repelling wave after wave of Barbarian hordes.
Watching 19 year old, 80kg Quade Cooper stand up and take nothing from a loose head prop who was unhappy with the treatment of his teammate.
Seeing the IRB player of the year Shane Williams stop and go, and go and go, sucking in defenders like they were caught in his slip stream. Seeing Habana almost bust it open, only to be held up by a defender grimly hanging on by the finger nails.
Having Regan and Gregan, enemies last year during the Quarter final in Marseille, coming on together, with Gregan ready to take the challenge up to his former team mates.
Witnessing the composure of O’Connor as world class players from across the globe tried to ruffle his eighteen year-old feathers.
The whole thing was magic!
This type of game truly nourishes the soul and shows you what rugby can be when played in the right spirit by players and referees alike.
stillmissit
Guest
Blue Sue - thanks a lot. It took me an age to find it. Great writing from Shakespeare and a fitting note to the youngsters and a few old heads who stood up that day.
Blue Sue
Guest
Stillmissit Shakespeare's Henry V has never sounded so good!
stillmissit
Guest
He that lived this day, and came safe home, Will stand on tip-toe when the day is named, And rouse him at the name of Barbarians. He that lived this day, and see old age, Will on the Barbarians game feast his neighbours, And say 'To-morrow is the Barbarians anniversary' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say 'These wounds I had on Barbarians day.' Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages What feats he did that day: then shall the names. Familiar in his mouth as household words George the king, Sheehan and Chisholm, Brown Mitchell and Ashley-Cooper, Pocock, Polata-Nau, Dunning, Kepu and young O’Connor, Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Australia v Barbarians games shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But that we shall be remembered.
Billo
Guest
I was at Wembley on Wednesday night, and watched the game again on TV, and it was a very fine game indeed. It ranked almost alongside the recent Rugby League World Cup Final, and was way ahead of almost any game in last year's World Cup. Someone has to find the knack of persuading teams ito play with this sort of commitment in big games while not shutting the game down as a spectacle. Young O'Connor looks the best find for many years.
DaniE
Guest
Well, as of today David Kirk is gone, so he's no longer Growden's boss!
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Davo - that sums up Growden, he is a miserable S.O.B who no one should pay any attention to. He probably didn't get a good feed at the Wembley Press Box before the game so decided to take it out on the game. Growden will bitch and moan about anything in the game. He is extremely negative and doesn't promote Rugby when the opportunity is there to do so. The irony is that his big boss at Fairfax is David Kirk, how he tolerates Growdens rubbish journalism is beyond me.
Davo
Guest
Pity Greg Growden in today SMH doesnt agree with you. The grumpy scribe must be over the cold weather and warm beers and homesick. How else to explain his dismissal of this game as mean,nasty and not entertaining and that it was a mistake for the Wallabies to have stayed around for the extra 4 days. Dunning and Kepu may agree and I genuinely feel really sorry for them but those injuries could have happened in a January training session and I am sure every other Wallaby who played the other night is more than happy and proud they did. Agree Craig, rugby doesnt always look it's best...but that moment of Tuqiri crunching Steyn backwards in a tackle, the ball being a contest, the defending team winning the contest, the halfback throwing a 20m pass and then two fast outside backs creating time and space at pace over 60m is exactly what makes rugby at it's best such a great sport.
wallythefly
Roar Rookie
Awesome stuff, try and tell the blokes out there it wasn't a Test match!
MarkH
Guest
Great game. Just watching all the young fellas have a crack would give a few current players in the Wallabies the jitters. The defece was outstanding.