Springbok rugby’s most celebrated Barbarians celebrated

Springbok rugby’s most celebrated Barbarians are the sport’s first Test Springbok Centurion Percy Montgomery, prop Adrian Garvey and loose-forward Bob Skinstad, writes Mark Keohane.

How appropriate that Montgomery, the first to 100 Test matches for the Springboks, and the Springboks record holder for most points scored, a Tri Nations winner and a 2007 World Cup winner, would be the back who has played the most matches for a the prestigious ‘invite only’ Barbarians FC.

Montgomery has played 10 times for the Barbarians FC, and won seven of the 10 matches in which he played. He also played for the Springboks against the Barbarians, most famously when playing flyhalf the last time the Springboks beat the Barbarians, back in Cardiff in 2000.

Montgomery played flyhalf in the Boks’ 41-31 win. He was supreme on the day, when the Boks overturned a 31-13 deficit against one of the most potent Southern Hemisphere dominated Barbarians teams assembled, to win 41-31.

Braam van Straaten kicked a late penalty to ensure the win.

Montgomery aside, Adrian Garvey (11) and Bob Skinstad (9) are the Springboks forwards to wear the Barbarians jersey the most.

All three of Montgomery (Namibia), Garvey (Zimbabwe) and Skinstad (Zimbabwe) were born outside of South Africa, so this is as much a celebration of African rugby as it is of South African and Springboks rugby.

The Barbarians FC is the most unique of teams, by invite only, and while it represented a particularly special occasion in the amateur era, every effort has been made to ensure the spirit of the Barbarians, which is the storytelling of a ball-in-hand game game rugby, has endured in the professional era.

South Africa’s involvement in the Barbarians has been big. There have been 128 South African players capped for the Barbarians, among them the most decorated Springboks, and two South African World Cup-winning coaches (Jake White and Rassie Erasmus) have ‘coached’ the Barbarians. Another, considered by many as right up there with the best of them, former Springboks and Italian coach Nick Mallett, coached the Barbarians to two of the club’s most famous wins, one against the Springboks at Twickenham and the other against the All Blacks, at Twickenham.

Mallett was the coach and Alan Solomons, former Stormers and Ulster coach, was his assistant.

Springboks World Cup winner Schalk Brits has played eight times for the Barbarians and the iconic Bakkies Botha captained the Barbarians to a win in his final professional match.

Bryan Habana, the Springboks record Test try scorer (67) also scored the most famous of hat tricks agains the All Blacks in 25-18 win at Twickenham.

 

‘The beauty of the Barbarians is just getting to know players you have gone up against for a decade and in some cases never even said hello to. It also changes one’s perception of the player. I played against George Gregan (Wallabies Test centurion) for most of my Test career, and naturally had massive respect for him as a player, but it took a week in the Barbarians family for me to get to know him. What a guy.’ Montgomery told me when we spoke about life with the Barbarians. ‘My other Barbarians highlight was playing alongside the late and great Jonah Lomu. I had those hoofs chasing the big up and under on me many times. It was so much more enjoyable being fullback when Jonah was on the wing than being fullback when Jonah was on the wing for the All Blacks. The Barbarians is so special to players. It is the definition of the spirit of rugby. I loved every one of my games, tours, with the Barbarians and I consider myself privileged to have played against and for the Barbarians.’

It is a consistent narrative when talking to players from every country who have spent a week together with the Barbarians. Foes becomes friends, and the friendships last long beyond the last Test.

Cape Town, on the 28th June, is going to be special. It is historic because the Barbarians FC, have never played the Boks in South Africa.

But the history is not what is going to make it special. It is the friendships made and the bond that makes rugby union the most unique sporting code in the world.

Battles fought on the field are friendships made off the field.

MACRON IS THE OFFICIAL KIT PARTNER OF THE BARBARIANS FC AND ALSO THE KEO & ZELS SHOW

The Springboks have played the Barbarians FC eight times, won three, lost four and drawn one.

The last time the Boks beat the Barbarians was in Cardiff in 2000, 25 years ago: 41-31. 

Barbarians: Christian Cullen (Wellington and New Zealand); Matt Burke (New South Wales and Australia), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster and Ireland), Daniel Herbert (Queensland and Australia), Chris Latham (Queensland and Australia); Carlos Spencer (Auckland and New Zealand), Agustin Pichot (Bristol and Argentina); Ron Cribb (North Harbour and New Zealand), Lawrence Dallaglio (Wasps and England, capt), Jim Williams (Australian Capital Territories (ACT) and Australia); David Giffin (ACT and Australia), Norm Maxwell (Canterbury and New Zealand); Mauricio Reggiardo (Castres and Argentina), Naka Drotske (Free State and South Africa), Richard Harry (New South Wales and Australia)

Replacements: Peter Clohessy (Young Munster and Ireland), Mark Hammett (Canterbury and New Zealand), Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster and Ireland), Andy Ward (Ulster and Ireland), Byron Kelleher (Otago and New Zealand), Neil Jenkins (Cardiff and Wales), Iain Balshaw (Bath and England)

South Africa: Gaffie du Toit (Natal); Breyton Paulse (Western Province), Robbie Fleck (Western Province), Japie Mulder (Western Province), Chester Williams (Golden Lions); Percy Montgomery (Western Province), Joost van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls); Andre Vos (Golden Lions, capt), Andre Venter (Free State), Corne Krige (Western Province); Mark Andrews (Natal), Albert van den Berg (Natal); Willie Meyer (Golden Lions), John Smit (Natal), Robbie Kempson (Western Province)

Replacements: Charl Marais (Western Province), Ollie le Roux (Natal), AJ Venter (Natal), Warren Brosnihan (Natal), Dan van Zyl (Western Province) Grant Esterhuizen (Golden Lions), Stefan Terblanche (Natal)