The 2017-18 season was a stellar one for the Barbarians — one of the club’s greatest, packed full of highlights — and we’re showcasing each of the matches over the course of this week. Game three was the classic contest against New Zealand in front of 63,000 at Twickenham.
The Baa-baas scored 36 tries in seven games, ran up a record victory against England, launched their first ever women’s team, and produced some thrilling attacking rugby against New Zealand and Australia.
Facing the All Blacks at Twickenham revived memories of the classic 1973 match lit up by Gareth Edwards’s incredible try – and of the club’s victory in 2009 that contained a Bryan Habana hat-trick.
The 2017 contest lived up to both those matches with more highlights to add to the history under the coaching team of Robbie Deans, Scott Robertson and Will Greenwood.
WATCH THE FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY OF THE BARBARIANS’ WEEK HERE
WATCH THE KILLIK CUP MATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE
There was no victory this time round but the Barbarians scored four tries with a brace for Crusaders full back George Bridge and solo efforts from Sam Carter and Richie Mo’unga.
Mo’unga, Bridge and Carter all touched down in the first half with the Barbarians 17-5 up and living up to their daring reputation by attacking from deep.
Richie Mo’unga opens the scoring at Twickenham
Waisake Naholo had struck early in the half and Vaea Fifita touched down just before the break.
Then three tries in the space of 10 second half minutes erased any hopes of an upset. Ngani Laumape, Sam Cane and Nathan Harris put Steve Hansen’s side 31-17 ahead.
But there was still time for a fourth Barbarians try — a cracker planned on the training ground by Will Greenwood with Rob du Preez’s cross-field kick gathered by Vince Aso and Bridge jetting away to score his second.
Kwagga Smith was the Killik Cup man of the match
Star turns in the Barbarians back row were Steven Luatua — whose interception created Bridge’s first try — and Kwagga Smith, the uncapped flanker who went on to make his Springboks debut in June this year.
Brothers Julien and Ardie Savea were on opposing sides in the Killik Cup match, which commemorated the 125th anniversary of the New Zealand Rugby Union.
BARBARIANS: George Bridge (Crusaders); Julian Savea (Hurricanes & New Zealand), Richie Buckman (Highlanders), Harold Vorster (LIons), Vince Aso (Hurricanes); Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders), Andy Ellis (Kobelco Steelers & New Zealand, capt); Jacques van Rooyen (Lions), Adriaan Strauss (Bulls & South Africa), Atu Moli (Chiefs), Sam Carter (Brumbies & Australia), Dominic Bird (Chiefs & New Zealand), Steven Luatua (Bristol & New Zealand), Kwagga Smith (Lions), Whitelock (Highlanders & New Zealand).
Replacements: Akker van der Merwe (Lions), Ben Franks (London Irish & New Zealand), Ruan Smith (Toyota Verblitz), Willie Britz (Sunwolves), Ruan Ackermann (Gloucester), Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders), Rob du Preez (Stormers), Dillon Hunt (Highlanders).
