Eddie's BaBa Side

Pinetree Boy

Barbarians
Backs: Jason Robinson (England/Lions), Joe Rokocoko (NZ), Isoa Neivua (Fiji), Ben Cohen (England/Lions), Conrad Smith (NZ), Tom Shanklin (Wales/Lions), Ma'a Nonu (NZ), Matt Giteau (Australia), Peter Grant (Stormers/South Africa), Justin Marshall (NZ)

Forwards: Rocky Elsom (Australia), Martyn Williams (Wales/Lions), Jerry Collins (NZ), Troy Flavell (NZ), Luke Charteris (Wales), Justin Harrison (Australia), Brent Cockbain (Wales), Schalk Brits (Stormers/South Africa), Mark Regan (Eng/Lions, captain), Salesi Ma'afu (Brumbies/Australia), Federico Pucciarello (Italy), Andrew Sheridan (England/Lions)

Not bad looking.

Bounty Hunter

Pinetree Boy wrote: »

Barbarians


Not bad looking.

true but the game was badly timed i.e no HC players involved

zAbbo

What was all the noise about Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell ?

daveirl

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MikeHoncho

zabbo wrote: »

What was all the noise about Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell ?

Leinster and Munster are playing each other this weekend. Wouldnt really be appropriate for them to miss this match in favour of an exhibition game. Magners league has to be important to our players and this is one of the biggest fixtures of the year.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

zAbbo

Dricco knew the fixture list when he accepted the captaincy

Ireland's World Cup captain Brian O'Driscoll has accepted an invitation to captain the Barbarians against South Africa at Twickenham on December 1.

O'Driscoll is currently sidelined after being punched out of Ireland's World Cup warm-up game against Bayonne earlier this month, although he should regain full fitness within the next few weeks.

He said: "I have very happy memories of playing for the Baa-baas against England at Twickenham three years ago, and I look forward to returning there in December.

daveirl

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zAbbo

I thought the IRFU called the shots on that, not BOD ?

Doesn't matter now I suppose.

Crash

Looking forward to this match, will be my first game in twickenham.

MikeHoncho

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I know on both points. I was simply expressing a point that it would not be appropriate for any of our players to miss a Magners League fixture in favour of an exhibition game for the Baba's would it?

Amz

Maybe not Leinster players, but the Magners League doesn't matter to Munster ... According to a few posters here anyway.

RuggieBear

who's the uncapped player in that team?

daveirl

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RuggieBear

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

really..that sucks. thought that was the best bit about the babas

marco_polo

RuggieBear wrote: »

really..that sucks. thought that was the best bit about the babas

http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=640417

Looks like the following three are uncapped (No nation specified beside names in the squad list in times article)
Salesi Ma'afu
Schalk Brits
Peter Grant

Stev_o

Oh dear there goes the captain and prop

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby/article2951170.ece

who's the outhalf?

zAbbo

Deleted User wrote: »

who's the outhalf?

Peter Grant, although Giteau could slot in there.

Bit of a shambles, Cohen & Cockbain don't even have clubs...

Gwynston

Anyone know if this is being shown by anyone other than Sky Sports (live or otherwise)?

NotWormBoy

Anyone got any streams for this online?

toomevara

What a cracking first try. Barbarians playing with alot of joie de vivre and general verve. Obviously EOS wasn't with them long enough to strangle the life or enjoyment of the game out of 'em...:D Nonu looks particularly sharp

Jackz

Damn you nonu, fantastic line then falls on his face.

toomevara

Should be twenty points up by now! Ah rugby, what a cruel mistress....Giteau looks to be in fine fettle....

Stev_o

This game has restored my faith in competitive rugby. Just blown away at this Baa Baa's performance this is why they should be still going. One of the best matches iv seen all year. Id say O Driscoll would be kicking himself he didnt get a lick at this rather playing in the rain ^^

Funkstard

Great match! I'm enjoying players falling over randomly to no end. Players seem to be under no pressure at all, resulting in a great free flowing match.

Stev_o

Funkstard wrote: »

Great match! I'm enjoying players falling over randomly to no end. Players seem to be under no pressure at all, resulting in a great free flowing match.

hahah exactly the same with me im jumping out of my seat at nearly every break wonderful stuff great rugby great match

toomevara

Ive been blandering on about the pointlessness of a Barbarians match in the modern era, I take it all back, I'm a clueless moron...cracking game, rugby as it should be played. Lovely to see fellas enjoying themselves... SA marginally off the pace, but the barbarians should be 30 clear if there was any justice....great try by elsom too

Stev_o

Tell you what Munster got some find Pucciarello just looking at him today and last week he has a huge amount of potential hopefully he can edge out Horan as this lad manages to SUPPORT AND PASS

toomevara

Stev_o wrote: »

Tell you what Munster got some find Pucciarello just looking at him today and last week he has a huge amount of potential hopefully he can edge out Horan as this lad manages to SUPPORT AND PASS

He's been outstanding, especially the first half....think its a case of a player clinging on to his position due to reputation. He should hopefully make the position his.

EdgarAllenPoo

You know he's been with Munster for a good while now? Interesting to see EOS make full use of the bench... a sign of things to come (and learning from past mistakes) or a brief bout of insanity from his point of view.

dc69

GDM wrote: »

Interesting to see EOS make full use of the bench...

he only made use of it becuase it was a barbarians match and he wanted to give everyone some pitch time,added to the fact they were winning,i foresee eddie back to old ways come 6 nations.great match though

I didnt see jason robinson play for most of his career,no doubt from watching clips he was a fantastic player,but is it just me thinking that the english hype everything up so much,i mean he wasnt the best in the world was he?you didnt see disco dennis getting anywhere near so much attention from the irish media,he should have been on that barbarians squad imo(especially seeing as eddie was coach)

toomevara

GDM wrote: »

Interesting to see EOS make full use of the bench... a sign of things to come (and learning from past mistakes) or a brief bout of insanity from his point of view.

I tend to the latter position, unfortunately. When it comes to the ireland job, he'll be back in his shell afore long...

Santa Claus

GDM wrote: »

You know he's been with Munster for a good while now? Interesting to see EOS make full use of the bench... a sign of things to come (and learning from past mistakes) or a brief bout of insanity from his point of view.

It's practically written into the Baa Baa's rules that the bench always gets used and in most games the entire bench gets a run.

He'll go back to his conservative use of the bench for the next Ireland game.....I just hope his fans don't start shouting about how the Baa Baas win is a vindication of Eddies tactics....It's a lot easier to win a game with all the talent that the Barbarians had on display today and the fact that the Boks had only 5 of the players from the world cup final in their starting line-up !

Stev_o

dc69 wrote: »

he only made use of it becuase it was a barbarians match and he wanted to give everyone some pitch time,added to the fact they were winning,i foresee eddie back to old ways come 6 nations.great match though

I didnt see jason robinson play for most of his career,no doubt from watching clips he was a fantastic player,but is it just me thinking that the english hype everything up so much,i mean he wasnt the best in the world was he?you didnt see disco dennis getting anywhere near so much attention from the irish media,he should have been on that barbarians squad imo(especially seeing as eddie was coach)

No no no he was one of the best players to grace both codes and will go down into the hall of fame. He had the sheer pace and this amazing ability to accelerate of either foot with a side step probably one of the hardest men to take down as you wouldnt know where he was heading. Had a stunning career with Wigan and his most famous act in Union cutting the best defense in the world up in his first Lions match ever burning Latham on the wing.

Will be sadly missed Billy Whizz wont be one like him for a while to come

EdgarAllenPoo

Now there's something I never thought of..do we know if Disco Denis was invited to play?

Santa Claus

GDM wrote: »

Now there's something I never thought of..do we know if Disco Denis was invited to play?

Good point, would have been nice to see him get a run and wasn't like he was match tied seeing as he's no longer a registered leinster player...is he even turning out for Mary's this season in the AIL ??

zAbbo

Stev_o wrote: »

No no no he was one of the best players to grace both codes and will go down into the hall of fame. He had the sheer pace and this amazing ability to accelerate of either foot with a side step probably one of the hardest men to take down as you wouldnt know where he was heading. Had a stunning career with Wigan and his most famous act in Union cutting the best defense in the world up in his first Lions match ever burning Latham on the wing.

Will be sadly missed Billy Whizz wont be one like him for a while to come

Robinson was the ultimate winger, he destroyed Australia for the Lions '01, and without him, England wouldn't have won the RWC 03, fantastic player, unstoppable 1on1.

toomevara

Also one of the greatest league players of all time, a holy terror for Wigan, though born in Leeds, but we wont hold it against him....One of the few players to be truly world class in both codes.

Total professional,once he got over his wild youth/ demon drink and found God. Would expect to see him coaching soon in some capacity at Sale and wont be long before he's part of the England back room set up.

remus808

Great game, was really suprised and pleased to see the elements of tradition remain e.g. running EVERYTHING.. Was a realy good-natured match etc. , players seemed to enjoy themselves.. Was sad to see Robinson taken off as a though! Didn't think it fitting

Mweelrea

Another great BaBa game!! although Francois Steyn did spoil the tempo with the drop goal attempts

oh and i'd say the reason robinson was taken off was so he could get his standing ovation for being such a joy to watch