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All Blacks claim victory, but Barbarians win hearts at Twickenham

Ngani Laumape breaks the line on his way to a try

It was a case of just playing the bad guy again for the All Blacks against the Barbarians, as they ran out 31-22 winners in the famous club’s 125th anniversary fixture.

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After shooting out to a 10-nil lead through tries to Richie Mo’unga and George Bridge, the crowd-favourite Barbarians looked on course to emulate their 2009 predecessors who triumphed over the All Blacks at the same ground. The All Blacks replied with tries to TJ Perenara and Vaea Fifita, but Sam Carter crashed over to give the Barbarians a 17-10 halftime lead.

However, a three try burst in the second half locked the game away for the All Blacks. Ngani Laumape, Sam Cane and Nathan Harris all crossed in the space of five minutes to shoot the score out to 31-17 and the game was effectively over as a contest after 60 minutes.

The Barbarians had the last say though, with a spectacular try to Bridge to finish the game. Off a teed-up kick across the field to Vince Aso, Bridge collected the ball and scooted 30 metres to score.

As well as Mo’unga and Bridge, former All Black Steven Luatua had a huge game, as did Lions flanker Kwagga Smith.

The All Blacks now head to Paris where they take on France next weekend.

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SK 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

If you are building the same amount of rucks but kicking more is that a bad thing? Kicks are more constestable than ever, fans want to see a contest, is that a bad thing? kicks create broken field situations where counter attacks from be launched from or from which turnover ball can be exploited, attacks are more direct and swift rather than multiphase in nature, is that a bad thing? What is clear now is that a hybrid approach is needed to win matches. You can still build phases but you need to play in the right areas so you have to kick well. You also have to be prepared to play from turnover ball and transition quickly from the kick contest to attack or set your defence quickly if the aerial contest is lost. Rugby seems healthy to me. The rules at ruck time means the team in possession is favoured and its more possible than ever to play a multiphase game. At the same time kicking, set piece, kick chase and receipt seems to be more important than ever. Teams can win in so many ways with so many strategies. If anything rugby resembles footballs 4-4-2 era. Now football is all about 1 striker formations with gegenpress and transition play vs possession heavy teams, fewer shots, less direct play and crossing. Its boring and it plods along with moves starting from deep, passing goalkeepers and centre backs and less wing play. If we keep tinkering with the laws rugby will become a game with more defined styles and less variety, less ways to win effectively and less varied body types and skill sets.

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