Barbarians Thrill Big Twickenham Crowd

Another historic day for the Club. Two years after claiming a third win over South Africa, the Barbarians have now notched up a 'double' over New Zealand.
It was a match in the best traditions of the long-running Baa-Baas against southern hemisphere series. Eagerly anticipated beforehand, few were left disappointed afterwards as a thrilling hat-trick of tries by Springbok super-wing Bryan Habana secured the inaugural MasterCard Trophy in front of a big Twickenham crowd.

There were massive contributions everywhere, not least from the coaching duo of Nick Mallett and assistant Alan Solomons as they prepared the squad with empathy, underlining each individual's self-belief and bringing out the best of talent that had bonded during seven days together.

If Habana's unprecedented three deadly strikes gained the headlines, then the leadership of Victor Matfield, heads-up rugby of the entire back division, and marvellous defence and set-piece commitment of the forwards were equally important.

The All Blacks led 3-nil after five minutes, and 10-7 after 24, but the Barbarians never panicked. In between, Drew Mitchell had pounced on turnover ball near his own 22, galloped up the left touchline, and his perfectly timed inside pass to the jet-propelled Habana was enough for the first converted try. With the last move of the first half, another All Blacks' attack deep in Baa-Baas' territory was foiled, this time Habana needing no assisitance as the 'King of the Intercept' streaked away on a 65-metre run to the distant posts.
Any thoughts that the Baa-Baas' couldn't build on their 14-10 interval lead were soon proved wrong. Matt Giteau stroked over a 35-metre penalty goal and, although the All Blacks got back to a two-point deficit thanks to a touchdown from Anthony Boric, Habana and his team-mates were far from finished.
This time it was patient build-up and phase play that created the score, culminating in deft footwork and the classic drawing of two defenders by Giteau, a crisp final pass from Morne Steyn, and a trademark dive into the corner by the wing.

In the final eight minutes Mike Delany and Steyn exchanged penalty goals but the Barbarians comfortably held on to their seven point lead to emulate the history makers of the famous 1973 victory.

Barbarians 25 New Zealand 18 (h/t: 14-10)
Twickenham : Saturday 5 December 2009
The MasterCard Trophy

Barbarians: D A Mitchell (Waratahs & Australia); J T Rokocoko (Auckland & New Zealand), J Fourie (Golden Lions & South Africa), J H Roberts (Cardiff Blues & Wales), B G Habana ((Stormers & South Africa); M J Giteau (Brumbies & Australia), P F du Preez (Blue Bulls & South Africa); S Perugini (Bayonne & Italy), B W du Plessis (Sharks & South Africa), W P Nel (Cheetahs), C A del Fava (Viadana & Italy), V Matfield, capt (Blue Bulls & South Africa), S W P Burger ((Stormers & South Africa), R D Elsom (Brumbies & Australia), G B Smith (Brumbies & Australia)
Replacements: S T Moore (Brumbies & Australia) -- du Plessis (h/t); T Mtawarira (Sharks & South Africa) -- Perugini (h/t); Q Geldenhuys (Viadana & Italy) -- del Fava (53); A T Powell (Cardiff Blues & Wales) -- Elsom (58); S W Genia (Reds & Australia) -- du Preez (63); M Steyn (Blue Bulls & South Africa) -- Mitchell (58); S L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues & Wales) - Habana (71)
Tries: Habana (3); Cons: Giteau (2); Pens: Giteau, Steyn

New Zealand: C S Jane; B R Smith, T E Ellison, C L McAlister, Z R Guidford; S R Donald, B G Leonard; W W V Crockett, C R Flynn, I F Afou, J J Eaton, A F Boric, L J Messam, R So'oialo, R H McCaw (captain)
Replacements: A K Hore (not used); N S Tialata (Crockett 68); A J Thomson (Guildford 58), T D Latimer (McCaw h/t); Q J Cowan (Leonard 53-64, Latimer 70); M P Delany (Donald h/t); S W Sivivatu (Ellison h/t)
Tries: Smith, Boric; Con: Donald; Pens: Donald, Delany

Referee: C Berdos (France)
Attendance: 63,551