Nine South Africans. Eight Kiwis. Five Argentinians. One Samoan.

It is right and proper that we should be celebrating 100 years of Fijian rugby and it's great that Twickenham and the Barbarians are supporting the celebrations.

But a Barbarians side without a single player from a northern hemisphere nation?

 

The days of Carmichael, Slattery, Edwards and Duckham are long gone and, with the match falling outside the international window, it is simply no longer feasible for the BaaBaas to field the equivalent of a Lions XV at home.

 

But is turning this occasion into a southern hemisphere exhibition match really the answer?

Cliff Morgan - RIP

Sad to hear of the death of Cliff Morgan, aged 83, after a long illness.

Not only was Morgan a fine fly-half for Cardiff, Wales and the Lions, he also went on to become one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and is perhaps best known for being the TV commentator for the most famous try in history – Gareth Edwards’ opening try for the BaaBaas against the All Blacks in 1973:

"PHIL BENNETT COVERING, CHASED BY ALISTAIR SCOWN...BRILLIANT, OH THAT'S BRILLIANT...JOHN WILLIAMS...PULLIN...JOHN DAWES...GREAT DUMMY...DAVID, TOM DAVID...THE HALF WAY LINE...BRILLIANT BY QUINNELL...THIS IS GARETH EDWARDS, A DRAMATIC START, WHAT A SCORE!!!"

Lions v BaaBaas: What did we learn?

In truth, not much.

So the Lions can thrash a scratch team who have been on the lash for the last fortnight. So what, so did a reserve England team last week.

Today's match wasn't really about rugby. It was about money. Why else would the Lions agree to play a match in such ludicrously hot and humid conditions? As a warm up for the main event down under it served little purpose, but no doubt someone's coffers are now suitably full.

40 years ago today...

To people of a certain age, including yours truly, it's simply the greatest try ever scored...



I'll never get tired of watching that. Brilliant.

Splashdown

Another rule of English rugby journalism appears to be that one is not allowed to write the words “Chris Ashton” without adding the words “swallow dive” or “Ash Splash” in close proximity.

Hence Ashton’s 3 tries against the BaaBaas yesterday was noted by most scribes on the basis that not one try featured his usual gymnastic celebration, much to the disappointment, apparently, of Twickenham man.

Perhaps the penny has finally dropped with Ashton. Whatever, it’s just good to see him crossing the whitewash again.