Barbarians 25 All Blacks 18
LONDON - A brilliant Bryan Habana hat-trick fired the Barbarians to just their second ever win over the All Blacks in a non-cap international at Twickenham here today.
The South African flyer scored two breakaway tries in the first half and finished a close-range effort in the second to seal a 25-18 win for the invitational side masterfully led by Australian playmaker Matt Giteau.
Giteau hit two conversions and a penalty, with Morne Steyn kicking a penalty two minutes from time to seal the Baa-Baas' first win over the All Blacks since the 1973 victory that featured Gareth Edwards' famous try.
A second-string New Zealand, lacking the leadership of Dan Carter, scored tries through Ben Smith and Anthony Boric, with Stephen Donald successful with a penalty and conversion and Mike Delaney hitting a late penalty.
It was a poor end to the All Blacks' European tour, which saw them notch up wins over Wales, England, Italy and France without conceding a try.
"This rates up there with the best," Habana said of the win. "To finish off with three tries is great.
"To beat the All Blacks, who haven't lost on tour or conceded a try, is very special. It's great to finish off as we did."
All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith added: "It's disappointing really, but the Barbarians are a great team.
"We let a couple of simple opportunities slip by and we couldn't get it back. It was a pretty good game of rugby but we threw a couple of good balls away that made the difference in the end."
Donald opened the scoring with a fifth-minute penalty as the two sides felt each other out.
Habana dived in for the Baa-Baas' first try five minutes later after an offload from fullback Drew Mitchell, who had gathered a loose ball when All Black hooker Corey Flynn was isolated just metres from the hosts' line.
Smith hit back for the All Blacks after the Barbarians had been spread too thinly when Giteau was drawn in, the winger finishing off a move set up by a scintillating midfield break from Luke McAlister.
Brendan Leonard produced an outstanding try-saving tackle on Jacque Fourie after the centre had been played through by midfield partner Jamie Roberts, the sole player from the four 'home unions' to start for the Baa-Baas.
But the wind was with the Baa-Baas, and Habana scored his second after intercepting a Donald pass in midfield, juggling the ball before sprinting away, with a brief look around in glee at the chasing All Black skipper Richie McCaw.
McAlister punched well above his weight early in the second-half, knocking Rocky Elsom into touch after the Australian No 8 had gathered a Giteau cross-kick and seemed bound for the tryline.
Crucially, the All Blacks failed to make a 15-minute period of pressure tell, scrum-half Leonard in particular guilty of hogging the ball with the line at his team's mercy.
Giteau stretched the Barbarians' lead to seven with a well-struck long penalty in the 57th minute.
But just minutes later, Boric burrowed his way over after another break from the on-form McAlister set up quick ruck ball down the right wing.
Replacement first five-eighth Mike Delany missed the conversion.
With 12 minutes to play, Habana bagged his hat-trick, crossing in the corner after Giteau drew two defenders with Steyn providing the definitive pass.
New Zealand opted for a penalty kick to bring the score back to 22-18, but Steyn had the final say, kicking three points after the All Black scrum folded to seal a memorable win.
Barbarians 25 (Bryan Habana 3 tries; Matt Giteau pen, 2 con, Morne Steyn pen) All Blacks 18 (Ben Smith, Anthony Boric tries; Stephen Donald pen, con, Mike Delany pen). Halftime: 14-10.
- AFP
