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Chorus of boos for the Barbarians' adopted 'national anthem' in Cardiff
Saturday’s Barbarians fixture against Wales was supposed to be a fantastic rugby celebration, but it struck a bum note before it even started at the Principality Stadium.
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The match was Wayne Pivac’s first game in charge of Wales and it doubled as a fond farewell for departing coach Warren Gatland, who was in charge of the Barbarians after twelve years at the helm of the Welsh.
However, before a ball was kicked the stadium reverberated to a chorus of boos.
The expectation for a match such as this was that there would be only one anthem played, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. But the atmosphere took a turn for the worse as God Save The Queen came out over the loudspeakers at the stadium.
Seemingly, the English anthem had been ‘adopted’ by the Barbarians, which was rather curious as their squad, skippered by Ireland’s Rory Best, contained no England players. They stood there in silence with blank expressions while the music played.
Fans in the stadium quickly voiced their disapproval of the anthem and this dissatisfaction soon spread online where a number of supporters took issue with what had just happened.
The booing of god save the Queen was very loud at the Millennium
— MeicApNeb (@meicapneb) November 30, 2019
Surely it should be the "world in Union" as the @Barbarian_FC anthem not God save the queen #WALvBAR
— Phil 🏴 (@Phil_rees_wru) November 30, 2019
Incredibly, playing “God save the Queen”, in Cardiff, to herald a Barbarians side coached by Warren Gatland, captained by Rory Best and bereft of English players, prompted a less than euphoric crowd response.
— Mick Collins (@MickPCollins) November 30, 2019
baffling moment to start off #WALvBAR why in god/jesus/allahs name did they play god save the queen for the Baba's? Rory Best looked so awkard trying to not acknowledge it was the song been played #Rugby thoughts anyone?
— G Hofman (@gghofman) November 30, 2019
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Has “God save the Queen” ever been greeted with so many smiles in #principalitystadium before? #WALvBAR
— Barry Wyn 🏴 (@barrywyn) November 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/GillibrandPeter/status/1200787511414546434
https://twitter.com/matt_rhys_wills/status/1200787882010710016
WATCH: Warren Gatland on what it will be like taking on his old team Wales this weekend as Barbarians coach
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
41 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
41 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
41 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
41 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
41 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
41 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
41 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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