Habana hat-trick fires Barbarians to win

Bryan Habana © Gallo Images

A hat-trick of tries by Springbok wing Bryan Habana spurred the Barbarians to a 25-18 win over New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday with the invitational team beating the All Blacks for only the second time in 10 attempts.

New Zealand had rested most of their first-choice players against a strong Barbarian side but will nevertheless be disappointed to have ended their previously victorious European tour with a defeat.

The Barbarians' only other win over the All Blacks was the 1973 success in Cardiff, highlighted by the most famous try in rugby, scored by Gareth Edwards.

Saturday's match, in front of 65,000 fans, could not match that brilliance but after much of the dull fare served up in many of the November internationals it was played with a refreshing commitment to attack.

A smart break by Australia wing Drew Mitchell set up Habana's first score. He then pinched a 70-metre interception before capping a memorable afternoon with a sharp finish and then departing the field to a standing ovation after 70 minutes.

Hugely impressive Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau converted two of the tries and scored a penalty, with South Africa's Morne Steyn sealing the win with a second penalty late on.

The All Blacks, who had not conceded a try in their four wins over Wales, Italy, England and France, scored tries through Ben Smith and Anthony Boric but their shadow side were unable to hold off their experienced opponents.

"That's up there with the best, we have an unbelievably talented group of players and to beat an All Black side that hasn't lost and hasn't conceded a try is pretty special," Habana told the BBC.

Italy and former South Africa coach Nick Mallet, who coached the Barbarian side for this match, said: "Nobody will forget 1973 and we understand the ethos of what the Barbarians is about.

"It's been an amazing week and great to finish it off the way we did."

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