New Zealand tour - Twickenham, 5 December 2009, 14:30 local, 14:30 GMT
Barbarians (14) 25 - 18 (10) New Zealand (FT)

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Summary

Time Score  
 

Welcome to our commentary of the Barbarians' clash with New Zealand at Twickenham. A classic fixture but will it live up to the billling?

1

Barbarians get the game under way, Giteau sends up a tester that is claimed by Donald. But there is an early turnover in a promising position but Habana knocks on.

2

Del Fava pinches the lineout ball off the All Blacks, Barbarians spin the ball but cough up possession, All Blacks counter, Guildford with the chip and chase but the ball beats everyone into touch.

4 0 - 3

New Zealand look to drive over, held up but recycled, McCaw hit hard in midfield, penalty advantage, Smith the guilty party and the All Blacks decision to go for the posts is greeted with a chorus of boos. Donald gives the All Blacks the lead with the kick.

6

McAlister wrapped up from the re-start, Mitchell fails to claim the clearance cleanly, direct running from Smith, Du Preez and Perugini in support, Matfield hauled down and more turnover ball for the All Blacks.

7

Boric and Crockett take the attack to the Barbarians, chip ahead claimed safely by Habana. All Blacks soon on the front foot again, Eaton makes big gain, Guildford with the chip through this time, Du Preez sweeps up.

8

Another poor lineout from the All Blacks, turned over, Giteau chip for Roberts to chase, broken play, All Blacks look to counter but Barbarians snaffle the ball and work it wide but are penalised for not releasing.

10 5 - 3

TRY McAlister at pace, McCaw into the 22, So'oialo makes a couple more yards. Good hands, Flynn forced wide, coughs up the ball, Mitchell breaks up the touchline, Habana in support and no one will catch him. Try time.

12 7 - 3

Giteau nails the conversion with an excellent kick from the touchline.

13

Matfield claims the re-start, good drive from the Barbarians, Du Preez with the box kick, Smith taken out in the air by Habana.

14

Catch and drive from the All Blacks at the lineout, then drive shortside, recycled again but All Blacks penalised for going to ground.

16

Great touch-finder from McAlister takes the game back inside the Barbarians' 22. Barbarians claim the lineout and clear the danger.

17

Du Plessis looks to inject some pace but finds he has little in the tank. Smith then penalised for holding on in the tackle. Donald finds touch inside the Barbarians' 22.

18

Another poor lineout from the All Blacks, Barbarians put boot to ball, Janes runs this one back, hauled down by Matfield. Turnovr, Burger then Del Fava have a go, Roberts half through, Fourie on his shoulder but the ball is picked off by Eaton.

19

Barbarians soon pressing again, but scrambling defence does just enough to deny them.

20

Barbarians get the attacking scrum, Du Preez goes close but the ball is lost, Donald gets the ball away under pressure.

21

Rokocoko almost wriggles free in midfield, Burger brought down on the All Blacks' 22, Elsom bounces off a couple of tackles.

22

Good counter rucking from the All Blacks, good strong work from Messam, Donald puts boot to ball.

23 7 - 8

TRY Great line from McAlister off the lineout, Guildford tackled, penalty advantage, Janes feeds Smith who coasts over for an All Blacks try.

24 7 - 10

Donald adds the extras to cement his side's narrow lead.

25

Good re-start work from So'oialo, Boric penalised for not releasing. Giteau takes the games downfield.

26

Nice lineout from the Barbarians, great pass from Roberts to Fourie - excellent set move - but Leonard does just enough to bring the Springbok down just short of the line and forces the knock on.

27

All Blacks opt to clear the danger, Barbarians run it back again, Du Preez chips into space and Donald knocks on under pressure.

28

Roberts takes the ball at pace again, All Blacks' defence holds firm, Nel has a go but the ball is turned over and cleared.

29

Du Plessis takes a quick tap, Habana comes inside looking for an opening, only finds Afoa, Giteau with the clever kick to find touch inside the 22.

30

All Blacks retina at the lineout, Leonard clears, back come the Barbarians, loose pass from Fourie, next pass is forward.

31

Great snipe from Leonard, So'oialo in support, Afoa wrapped up midway inside the Barbarians' half. Donald knocks on again but the pass was not the best and did him no favours.

33

Smith caught in possession at the back of a scrum, Giteau helps him out with a clearance kick, nearly a great move from the All Blacks but the pass to Guildford is fractionally forward.

34

Habana does well to dodge a challenge after claiming a high ball, but cannot prevent the turnover. All Blacks find touch on the Barbarians' 22.

35

All Blacks shift the ball, McAlister almost through, advantage Barbarians, Giteau knocks on so back we come for the penalty.

36

Barbarians clear their lines from a retreating scrum - great work from Du Preez.

37

Giteau sparks an attack from his own 22 before having a re-think and clearing long.

38

All Blacks ending the half on the front foot, clever kick from Donald, bounce goes the Barbarians' way, Leonard drives close having snaffled the loose ball, but All Blacks are then penalised at the breakdown.

40 12 - 10

TRY Fourie finds touch with a clearance kick but All Blacks mount another attack from the lineout. However, Habana pounces in midfield to claim an interception, jugles it once or twice before racing away for his second try. Simple conversion from Giteau brings an end to the half.

40+1 14 - 10

Giteau - conversion

40

Fourie pounces on a loose ball from the re-start, Elsom is wrapped up, Roberts trickles the ball through where it finds touch.

41

All Blacks clear the ball, Rokocoko leads the next attack against his countrymen, Roberts makes good ground again. Delany bundled into touch by Elsom and Matfield.

43

Rokocoko looking lively, cross kick from Giteau finds his international skipper Elsom but he is forced into touch as he attempts to juggle the ball. Smart thinking though.

45

Burger spills the ball in midfield, Sivivatu does well but the ball is turned over again and cleared. Guildford has a dart, Leonard almost through, throws a hopeful pass that goes to ground but the penalty goes the All Blacks' way.

47

Big scrum from the All Blacks, penalty advantage, Leonard held again, Boric just short, knock on but we'll come back for the penalty. All Blacks opt for another scrum.

48

Another big scrum, and it wheels under pressure. Referee Christophe Berdos has a word with Barbarians skipper Victor Matfield. Free kick next time, So'oialo drives for the line...

49

Eaton has a go, knock on from Du Preez and so we'll have another scrum.

50

Good scrum from the Barbarians, Leonard goes short side, spills the ball and Barbarians escape. Habana was injured in the process though.

51

Matfield wins lineout ball, Du Preez with the kick ahead, Sivivatu looks to counter, good tackle from Roberts. Recycled, but Sivivatu is then isolated and is penalised.

53

Replacement Cowan clears long with his first kick, loose lineout from Moore, but Barbarians reclaim the ball.

54

Great off-load from Sivivatu to Jane down the shortside but they run out of room. Delany sends up a high kick that is easily claimed by Mitchell.

57 17 - 10

Giteau lines up a penalty after the All Blacks were caught off side. His kick is good and we have the first points of the second half.

58

Du Preez happy to play the territorial game now, strong run from Mtawarira. Roberts surges into the 22, Barbarians work the ball through the hands, All Blacks conjure an interception as tempers flare between Cowan and Habana.

59

All Blacks' lineout on their own 22, knock on gives the Barbarians the scrum.

60

Powell with the pick and go off the scrum, Giteau almost through, ball goes down, Guildford puts boot to ball, Barbarians scramble back, Steyn clears long...

61 17 - 15

TRY McAlister hauled down five metres short, recycled, Boric at pace forces his way over the line but we'll go to the TMO first. Last ditch tackle from Steyn may have denied him the score...but it is awarded and the All Blacks are now within two with the conversion to come

62

Delany pushes the conversion wide of the posts.

63

Moore finds Matfield at a lineout on half-way, Barbarians probe the All Blacks' defence, Fourie penalised for holding on.

65

Very subdued atmosphere despite the fact the game is in the balance as we enter the final quarter.

67

Sivivatu coughs up the ball in midfield, All Blacks penalised for playing the ball on the deck. Kick is set to drive the All Blacks back into their own half. Lineout will take place inside the 22.

68 22 - 15

TRY Powell drives well, Fourie spins out of one tackle and into another. Barbarians go short side again, good hands from Giteau to Steyn to Habana who dives over in the corner to claim his hat-trick. Great score.

69

Giteau lines up another conversion from wide out - this effort drifts wide of the posts. Barbarians lead by a converted score.

70

Habana makes way to a standing ovation. Jane launches high one, All Blacks get the penalty for offside and to the delight of the crowd look to the posts.

71

Delany lines up the kick from 45m. His kick is good and we now have a five-point ball game.

72 22 - 18

Thomson granted some room which he exploits, McAlister shackled in midfield, Delany with the probing kick. Steyn sends it back with interest.

73

Messam knocks on to gift the Barbarians possession on New Zealand's 22.

74

Powell feeds Genia who darts into the 22, Smith held, Nel almost wriggles free, successive knock ons gives New Zealand the feed at the scrum.

76

Big scrum from the Barbarians and they get the penalty. Steyn will look for three more to edge his side nearer a famous win.

77 25 - 18

And the Springbok fly-half's kick is good.

78

Huge clearance from Giteau means the All Blacks will have to go from deep again. They spin it through the hands, Leonard tackled high by Rokocoko and the penalty goes to the corner for the lineout.

79

The catch is good, the All Blacks then look to rumble it forward, So'oialo has a go, Burger snuffs out the attack with a great tackle. The penalty goes the Barbarians way and that will be the game.

80

The kick goes to touch and the Barbarians lay claim to another famous victory and condemn the All Blacks, albeit a largely second-string, to their first tour defeat. Thanks for joining us and see you next time.

Timeline

Time Barbarians  Score  New Zealand
0 start of first half start of first half
4 0 - 3 Donald - penalty goal
10 Habana - try 5 - 3
12 Giteau - conversion 7 - 3
23 7 - 8 Smith - try
24 7 - 10 Donald - conversion
40 Habana - try 12 - 10
40+1 Giteau - conversion
end of first half
14 - 10 end of first half
40 start of second half
Moore - sub on
du Plessis - sub off
start of second half
41 Mtawarira - sub on
Perugini - sub off
Latimer - sub on
McCaw - sub off
42 Delany - sub on
Donald - sub off
Sivivatu - sub on
Ellison - sub off
52 Geldenhuys - sub on
del Fava - sub off
57 Giteau - penalty goal
Steyn - sub on
Mitchell - sub off
Powell - sub on
Elsom - sub off
17 - 10
61 17 - 15 Boric - try
62 Genia - sub on
du Preez - sub off
64 Thomson - sub on
Guildford - sub off
67 Tialata - sub on
Crockett - sub off
68 Habana - try 22 - 15
70 Halfpenny - sub on
Habana - sub off
72 22 - 18 Delany - penalty goal
76 Cowan - sub on
Boric - sub off
77 Steyn - penalty goal 25 - 18
80 end of second half end of second half

Notes

 
Result Barbarians won by a margin of 7 points
 
Ground name Twickenham Stadium, London

Teams

Barbarians New Zealand
Tries Habana (10, 40, 68) Tries Smith (23), Boric (61)
Cons Giteau (12, 40) Cons Donald (24)
Pens Giteau (57), Steyn (77) Pens Donald (4), Delany (72)

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