Twickenham's soulless exhibition day

Barbarians 19 - New Zealand XV 47

"Barbarians". The very name conjures up images of rampaging Visigoths cutting down any that dare stand in their way. In rugby terms that has meant thrilling, competitive matches, with the ball fizzing through the hands as tries are sought and the paying punter entertained.

"Barbarians". The very name conjures up images of rampaging Visigoths cutting down any that dare stand in their way. In rugby terms that has meant thrilling, competitive matches, with the ball fizzing through the hands as tries are sought and the paying punter entertained.

Think back 31 years to this very fixture, when Gareth Edwards scored an extraordinary try that has since become legend in a match in which 12 of the Barbarians were British Lions of 1971 vintage and the All Blacks were still smarting at that series defeat.

That provided the edge, the players the spectacle; but can yesterday be compared to that day in Cardiff? To the purists the answer is an unequivocal "No". And with the advent of the Tri-Nations, the excellent Heineken Cup and the Zurich Premiership, it is difficult to argue for the fixture as a necessary battle.

So what are we to make of this? New Zealand's second team, to all intents and purposes, faced an invitational side composed principally of Australians and South Africans. For what? Sadly, the answer is money. The fixture has become an exhibition, a fundraiser, a chance to experiment. So instead of someone of the standing of Phil Bennett at fly-half, although he was relatively unheralded in 1973, there is Matt Giteau, learning a new position that he might yet fill admirably for Australia if his performance there for 60 minutes last week against England is to be considered, and for the All Blacks Aaron Mauger. The fixture cannot have the gravitas it once had if the All Blacks leave their new scintillating talent Daniel Carter on the bench.

There was some spark, but it was personal, not national. Justin Marshall, clearly irked at being omitted from the All Black tour ostensibly to have a rest, refused to allow two of his competitors for the scrum-half spot, Piri Weepu and Jimmy Cowan, a free run. And Lote Tuquri, such a dominant and imposing winger for the Wallabies, was shunted inside to the outside-centre channel, a move his national coach, Eddie Jones, has suggested before.

Because of the experimentation and the little time the Barbarians had to prepare, the first half could only be disjointed. The first two scores were push-overs from mauls, and it was only after the interval that the game opened up and gave the crowd the free-running and broken play they craved.

Ten tries were scored in the end, seven by the All Blacks, but the best run came from the South African lock Albert van den Berg when he intercepted a pass in midfield and sprinted 60 metres. That at least would not have happened in 1973.

What was evident is that this summer's Lions tour should be a cracker. The All Blacks are starting to regain the skill levels and graft of their heritage, as they showed last week in France. It is no surprise, considering the New Zealand Rugby Union are involving former players in the preparation of the national team.

The traditions are alive in New Zealand but, unlike this fixture, they are using them for improvement and to sustain an institution. The Barbarian tradition has been hijacked by money. Yesterday the players were circus acts, not competitors, and rugby fans around the world can take greater joy from the club competitions and true internationals. And, of course, the Lions tour, proper rugby with a heart that beats red with pride, not green with greed.

Barbarians: M Rodgers; C Latham, L Tuqiri, M Turinui (all Australia), S Bobo (Fiji); M Giteau (Australia), J Marshall (New Zealand, capt); B Young, B Cannon (both Australia), F Rautenbach (South Africa), D Vickerman (Australia), A van den Berg, S Burger (both South Africa), X Rush (New Zealand), P Waugh (Australia). Replacements: G Botha (Bulls, SA) for Cannon, 41; A Lo Cicero (Italy) for Young, 41; AJ Venter (South Africa) for Van den Berg, 41; R Samo (Australia) for Burger, 38-51; W Greeff (South Africa) for Giteau, 41; A Tuilevu (Fiji) for Latham, 41; G Bobo (South Africa) for Turinui, 60.

New Zealand: M Muliaina; D Howlett (both Auckland), C Laulala (Canterbury), M Nonu (Wellington), R Gear (North Harbour); A Mauger (Canterbury, capt), J Cowan (Southland); S Taumoepeau, K Mealamu (both Auckland), G Somerville, R Thorne (both Canterbury), A Williams, J Kaino (both Auckland), S Bates, M Holah (both Waikato). Replacements: A Oliver (Otago) for Mealamu, 58; C Hayman (Otago) for Taumoepeau, 58; C Jack (Canterbury) for Thorne, 54; M Tuiali'i (Auckland) for Bates, 54; P Weepu (Wellington) for Cowan, 66.

Referee: A Turner (South Africa).