Wallabies add to Matfield’s woe
26 Nov 2011
JON CARDINELLI watched the Wallabies thrash the Barbarians 60-11 to ensure Victor Matfield’s international career ended on a depressing note.
Australia edged South Africa 11-9 in last month’s World Cup quarter-final, a result that stretched their record against the Springboks in 2011 to three from three. This Saturday’s fixture at Twickenham represented a final attempt at revenge for Matfield, but as much as he tried as an individual, he couldn’t lift the collective to the point where they could mount any real challenge.
The result sees the Baa Baas missing out on a hat-trick of wins against the Sanzar nations, having beaten New Zealand in 2009 and South Africa in 2010. It also sees Wallabies coach Robbie Deans getting one over the All Blacks’ Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, who took charge of the Barbarians for this particular encounter.
The Baa Baas looked a disinterested and disjointed bunch for much of the contest. They butchered two early try-scoring opportunites, and failed to make the Wallabies pay when Adam Ashley-Cooper and James Slipper were yellow-carded at separate intervals in the first half.
The visitors struggled to fire early on, but certainly looked the more structured and ambitious of the two teams. It finally came together in the 26th minute when flyhalf James O’Connor found Digby Ioane, who proceeded to expose some poor Barbarians defence.
This aspect of the Baa Baas’ game grew worse as the game progressed. They managed to keep the Wallabies in check in the first half thanks to the two yellow cards, but in the second stanza, there was no stopping the relentless green and gold wave.
The Wallabies’ bench provided the desired impetus, but the defensive effort of the Barbarians was nothing short of shocking. In a definitive period between the 40th and 70th minute, those wearing the black and white hoops ushered the Wallabies to the tryline no less than five times.
It will go down as the worst performance by a Barbarians side in recent times. Although they managed to score one consolatory try in injury time through young league star Sam Tomkins, it was the gutless defensive effort that will anger officials and members of an extremely proud and elite club.

446 Comments
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27 Nov 2011, 21:49 pm
@David(David)-398:
yeah , and then need to get rescued by a local 10 meters from shore
27 Nov 2011, 21:50 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-399:
I dipped my toe in the water at Blouberg in March…Fark me, took my breath away!
27 Nov 2011, 21:50 pm
@charo(charo)-396:
You’re right about surfing starting in Durban.
27 Nov 2011, 21:50 pm
Actually we used to leave them out there waving their arms as we chatted up their girlfriends
27 Nov 2011, 21:52 pm
@carol(carol)-402:
Hi Carol How are you ? Yes it can after a 5 day South easter its would get sooo cold
27 Nov 2011, 21:52 pm
@David(David)-398:
yeah but we always had bigger and better kit, just couldnt use it. something’s not right there.
27 Nov 2011, 21:53 pm
@David(David)-403:
did you see my link ? I think it was Muizenberg i think 1919
27 Nov 2011, 21:53 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-401:
I’d let them drown! Well almost.
27 Nov 2011, 21:54 pm
@David(David)-408:
Oh yes a few less vaalies to worry about
27 Nov 2011, 21:55 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-394:
very nice website.
looked under “publications” and that sa surfer vol 1 i bought as a young kid – will never forget that cover.
27 Nov 2011, 21:56 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-405:
I am really good thanks……However slightly miffed that we have not got our usual tickets for the Wales v Aus game.
Still managing to do some construction over there in the States?
27 Nov 2011, 21:57 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-407:
nice try but not convinced.
anyway, night all – school tomorrow.
27 Nov 2011, 21:58 pm
@carol(carol)-402:
I think it’s called an ******, who were you with?
27 Nov 2011, 21:58 pm
@charo(charo)-412:
Don’t forget to brush you teeth before bed!!
Nighty Night
27 Nov 2011, 21:59 pm
@carol(carol)-411:
Good to hear
I am still miffed about the Oz/bok game at WC and the foking ref
(that should bring in Hurrican
Construction in USA is non existant. I am battling along however.
27 Nov 2011, 21:59 pm
@David(David)-413:
Hehehh….A fellow blogger!!
27 Nov 2011, 22:00 pm
@charo(charo)-412:
Cheers
27 Nov 2011, 22:01 pm
@carol(carol)-402:
Carol we used to surf without wet suits in that cold water
27 Nov 2011, 22:01 pm
Actually David, what is an ******* ?
27 Nov 2011, 22:02 pm
Orgas*m seems to be a rude word. No wonder that keo and friends are tight arsed.
Anyway, good night guys.
27 Nov 2011, 22:02 pm
@carol(carol)-419:
Yes i was wondering to?
Just change the spelling so it cant get censored
27 Nov 2011, 22:04 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-418:
How could you even think about that, no wet suit in that temperature.
I honestly could not even paddle without wincing!
Until I talked to you guys here I had no idea there was such a strong surf culture in South Africa!
You lot are passionate about your water sports.
27 Nov 2011, 22:04 pm
@David(David)-420:
nite
with the water that cold we could not find it let alone have an orga*m
27 Nov 2011, 22:05 pm
@carol(carol)-422:
Watch “Endless Summer” great movie and they go to SA
its funny too
27 Nov 2011, 22:06 pm
@David(David)-420:
David, really…..!!
Good Night
27 Nov 2011, 22:09 pm
S Easter blowing like the clappers here
27 Nov 2011, 22:10 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-423:
You are not selling this to me!!
It sounds almost painful!
‘Endless Summer’ right, one for the list!!
I must slip off now. Nice to catch up Coach, enjoy your afternoon.
27 Nov 2011, 22:10 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-426:
Your in for good weather
You going to Blouberg to dip your toe too?
27 Nov 2011, 22:11 pm
@carol(carol)-427:
Cheers Darling
27 Nov 2011, 22:15 pm
Hout Bay.
Always.
27 Nov 2011, 22:16 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-430:
My boet lives there
27 Nov 2011, 22:16 pm
Ok all I am off Cheers
27 Nov 2011, 22:17 pm
I go there if I can get past the Gautengers
27 Nov 2011, 22:19 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-433:
yes they stay away from the fishy smell at Hout bay
27 Nov 2011, 22:43 pm
Awwwwww…. why not a big group hug with lots of smileys?????
Yegads
28 Nov 2011, 03:45 am
@Bod(bod)-435:
So you come here on the site and make fun of people after they have left? Coward
If you dont like smiley faces then go f*&k yourself, You Pri@k
If it upsets thy that much then stay off this site and go get drunk on some Guiness
28 Nov 2011, 05:48 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-436:
hehehe, go coach, don’t hold back boet!
28 Nov 2011, 05:54 am
@whatever(whatever)-437:
Thanks mate
How are you ?
28 Nov 2011, 06:14 am
@Caper(Caper)-101:
Very well said
Victor is a heck of a lock and rugby player and this irrelevant Baa Baas game did not define or diminish his career
He had an amazing playing career for both the boks and Bulls and was one of the best locks ever to play the game
28 Nov 2011, 07:17 am
I think that over the last couple of decades the Barbarians games have lost a lot of their magic.
These days they really seem to ho-hum affairs that nobody takes seriously at all.
As someone said earlier in the thread… perhaps they should be confined to playing SH teams after they’ve played all their Tests in the end-of-year tour… as a last crack with the best Europe has to offer… I seem to remember in the old days the teams would be largely European with one or two SH players…
anyway… a largely inconsequential game… with all the excitement of metal rust…
But have to say… IMO… proved beyond doubt that James O’Connor should play at Number 10 for the Rebels and for Aus… The kid just makes things happen…
I honestly believe if he is given the jersey for a year (and hopefully longer) he will become one of the all-time great flyhalves…
28 Nov 2011, 07:21 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-439:
Hi Pete,
If you are still around, sorry I missed you guys last night, seems I baled just before a good session was about to start.
The names of the boards you blokes mentioned brought back many memories. I started with a Safari (Spider) and as a good Capetonian should do “progressed” to a Tich Paul- 6 feet 3 inches single fin in those days- still have the remains of it.
Saw an interesting article in the argus on Sunday re the “turf wars” in Hawai- becoming more and more violent it seems- mainly Hawaiians taking exception to the Brazilians who they claim do not show “respect” for the locals- sounds familiar lol- luckily not as bad here (as yet) – I will check up on the history – got a book on it at home – but I think Charo might be right, it probably started in Durban.
28 Nov 2011, 07:39 am
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-380:
Old Donald is still kicking.
Check him on you tube chatting about competitions and stringless surfboards:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZSY6nnLtRw
28 Nov 2011, 07:41 am
Matfield should have done his talking on the field not in the media – well it should be a breath of fresh air for the Bok supporters that the old guard has gone – the desire seems to have disappeared completely.
28 Nov 2011, 07:51 am
Henry and Hansen disrespected the Barbarians tradition and put the concept in danger. Shame on them.
28 Nov 2011, 07:59 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-444:
huh…?
how did they do that BH…?
what did i miss…?
28 Nov 2011, 10:02 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-138:
So nice to hear your bleating continues unabated.
Long may it continue.
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