All Blacks opt for Barbarians over England

hahahaha replacing the Lions So England toured Australia with Wallaby players playing midweek matches in Super sides and then The Rugby Championship followed by a NH tour? Also the fact you guys capitulated like schoolchildren should surely exclude you from further discussion concerning how the big boys play the game?

We all know how successful the Wallabies were last year with such an itinerary. Have a 3 match series in 2018 and make it something meaningful instead of satisfying someones ego,

Sorry, one last point. Against my own judgement, I do reluctantly agree with Ritchie's smart-a*se remark about the future funding exercises, available to the NZRU. His snide remark to the NZ rugby community was "Go and build bigger stadiums" hence my reluctance, for this pompom blazerette, to tell us down-under how to run, our rugby fraternity. But, he's right. So, it's great to know that Phil Goff (Auckland Mayor) has already started the ball rolling by putting his Council Administration on notice to start, investigative proceedings, for a new stadium to replace, Eden Park.

My point is Tew was complicit with this whole episode, from the get-go, when clearly all he had to do was regretfully decline England's request, on the basis that the ABs already had a game arranged, signed and sealed. But, he procrastinated when there was no need to, hence what eventuated was a total shambles that was given more headlines, than it deserved......and, the wrong headlines, for both sides, to boot. The mere fact that he even considered Ritchie's request, then made a counter-offer and watched the whole episode unfold in media head-lines, makes him a party to this whole unfortunate incident. Yes, Tew has been a front-line leading CEO for the NZRU but, there have to be times when the pocket, has to take a back-seat for the welfare, of the product and, a polite decline in this instance, could've prevented this whole consideration, from being entertained. But, I think he misguidedly believed, there was an opening to push his agenda of equal payments, with the main protagonist, of such a policy. It didn't work and now, it most probably won't ever, since his counter offer, didn't get accepted. From my viewpoint, I don't know whether to laugh at Ritchie's incompetence or Tew's insatiable desire, for extra funding, irrespective of the consequences, that may follow.

Australia did all that last year replacing the Lion's with England and finishing with tests against all home unions including England and also France. ABs not up to that?

Missing the point. It's an exhibition match with a different history, heart and soul. Some of them have been every bit the equivalent of test matches and they provide a different experience for the spectator putting players together from around the world in one side. Its a great and grand tradition. The other massive factor here is that it's blown up into a story because England wanted to mess with the programme. How could that ever work in this particular year? Player welfare is already a major issue and now you want front line All Blacks playing Super Rugby, then a MASSIVE Lions series, (with the potential to be the most physical series in years including the availability of All Blacks in the tour matches for the Super Sides, only adding to their workload) followed by the extreme demands of travel and tough matches in the Rugby Championship and then the European tour which already includes France, Scotland and Wales. The Baa Baas match is the perfect and only sensible option to round out this year.

No international side, even one blooding "some" new players expects to lose to a pick up side with a weeks training. No international side SHOULD lose in those circumstances. You're not giving enough credit to the performances of the Baa Baa sides in those matches. I know the All Black side that lost in 2009 weren't happy about it at all. That wasn't a side made up of untried players: C Jane; B Smith, T Ellison (S Sivivatu 40), L McAlister, Z Guildford (A Thomson 64); S Donald (M Delany 40), B Leonard (J Cowan 52); W Crockett (N Tialata 67), C Flynn, J Afoa, J Eaton, A Boric, L Messam, R McCaw (captain) (T Latimer 40), R So’oialo. That's a good side.

Tew has nothing to do with this shambles. He was asked to consider a test outside the window that he had no obligation to take and said "righto, pay us whats essentially an appearance fee" Nothing wrong with that at all. If England want to muck around with the schedule just a few months out then they should pay for it. They didnt want to, Tew most likely knew they woudn't so he's able to avoid the game without ever having to say no. Brilliantly done. Richie was given a lesson in how to play the game at the highest level, something Tew has not been given enough credit for. Tew gets a lot of stick but the NZRU are CLEARY the best union going around. There's no way the All Blacks could stay top of the heap if the game was mismanaged in New Zealand. Absolutely no way. Just look at the mess South Africa have made in spite of their extraordinary history in the game. Success in professional sport begins in the boardroom.

I agree BaBa's games are exhibition games a bit like watching the Harlem Globe Trotters. Its not really a test match.

I would say they regularly beat top sides because the top sides use those games to blood players and experiment. I know Ireland do anyway. I would much prefer Ireland played a developing side like Georgia, Romania or Spain etc to do that. No one really gets excited about BaBa games in Ireland. Touring sides like NZ take them more seriously because they have a set squad of players on tour and cant deviate from that but it seems silly for sides like NZ to play a team of mercenaries when they can play a strong 6 nations side instead.

Because no barbarians game comes even close to a test match. I want to see the ABs play England like most fans worldwide. Why not just take the chance. Looks suspect, even if it isn't.

Running scared?

Sorry NV but IMO, Ian Ritchie did not make, any such offer. It was the Daily Telegraph that made the offer, through their headlines. Truth be told, Ritchie didn't want to set a precedent with making such an offer and endeavoured to embarrass, the NZR into an acceptance, through the headlines. When that approach wasn't going to work, he then went on a tangent to withdraw Twickers, from being available to the Baabaas. And finally, to really put pressure on Ritchie, his own Premier Clubs decided they needed to be consulted and their starting price would also be, a 50:50 share of the profits. Tew doesn't escape the shame of this absolute shambles either because, he suggested, the NZR's consideration if there was to be, a 50:50 profit share. Can't blame him but, he should've said no, right at the start rather than exacerbate, the whole unfortunate incident. No-one walks away, from this episode, holding their head high.....it was an absolute shambles.

You're absolutely right and their recent record over the last half dozen years is better than most full international sides.

Maybe that is how NZ should address the financial imbalances of rugby - organise a preliminary match against the Lions using overlooked NH players, then pocket the cash.

Hello Die Hard. According to NZ media the AB's got a five million pound offer. That is by some distance the biggest offer ever for a Test match

NZ did not accept the challenge. Why? Because they honoured the deal they made. And good on them for that.

Well hello Hello. The RFU did not offer the big money. In fact they offered standard rate. The offer to them was to make it worthwhile and they declined. The ABs already have a tough schedule. Seven games in eight weeks. Have you thought this through?

The Barbarians have always selected from far afield but majority southern hemisphere Baa-baas sides only started appearing in the last twenty years.

Jesus all the negativity here regarding thr Baa Baas, how about we all just enjoy it for what it is? An exhibiton game that will have on show all the qualities of free flowing rugby we love. Yes there will be SH players, some has beens and some will be's, but it's all in the spirit of the game we love. And to the gentleman above who says the ABs are afraid of playing England, can I have some of what you're having please?