Playing the Barbarians is a waste of time... why not play England or France?

The British and Irish Lions play only six games before their first Test against Australia and they need tough fixtures to be battle-hardened and up to speed. To be blunt, playing the Barbarians in Hong Kong on Saturday will do absolutely nothing to help them prepare for the pace and professionalism of the Wallabies.

When the Barbarians lined up against England last weekend they were clearly dishevelled and uninterested — it was a waste of a fixture for an England side about to tour Argentina and a match that the RFU should seriously reconsider if it is approached in such ridiculous fashion.

It was a hot, sunny day at Twickenham and the Baa-Baas paid a heavy price for their self-proclaimed ‘team bonding’ drinking sessions in the week building up to the match. I just hope the same mindset does not apply on Saturday.

Scroll down for video



Here we go again: The British and Irish Lions take to the field for another training session in the sweltering heat Getting hot in here: Toby Faletau keeps cool in front of a fan sprinkling water during a training session

It was a sad sight which made me question whether they really are from a bygone era of amateur rugby. For Derek Quinnell, the team manager, to sit in a press conference before facing the Lions and talk about a self-imposed booze ban is frankly embarrassing.

Even worse, the players then went to the races that evening and posted pictures of themselves online with glasses of wine in their hands and bottles of beer on the tables. You only have to read the views on social media sites to see what supporters think of this.

Professional players preparing with beer-fuelled ‘bonding sessions’ is a million miles away from the image the game should have in the 21st century. It frustrates me to think about the young fans at Twickenham hoping to be inspired by the Barbarians’ trademark style of free running, skilful rugby, who were instead presented with players clearly unfit for purpose.

One of my proudest moments playing rugby was winning the Hong Kong Sevens in 1981 with the Barbarians but it was a different era. The prestige of facing the Lions should be cherished, as should the prestige of the Barbarians themselves.



Day at the races: Barbarians Schalk Brits (right) and Marco Wentzel enjoy a glass of wine

Different era: The Barbarians' drinking culture contrasts with that of top international sides

Who are the Barbarians?

The Barbarians were founded in 1890 in Bradford by William Percy Carpmael. Most sides ended the season in March but Carpmael conceived a select touring side to play post-season matches.

In 1948, they faced Australia — their first international match — as part of a fundraising effort to help the Australians get home. It was such a success that international matches became traditional.

The Baa-Baas have always played in distinctive black and white hoops, but players all wear their respective club socks.

31 countries have represented the Barbarians, with Norway the latest to join the list after Erik Lund played against England on Sunday.

Once a player is selected, he is a club member for life. The Barbarians have more than 2,800 members.

Most of the world’s great players have represented the Barbarians, though it is a tradition to select at least one uncapped player.

Barbarians matches should not be treated as exhibitions; this is why I tried as England coach to get these games promoted to Test status, for which players received international caps.

The Lions also must admit they are here purely for commercial reasons. I have no problem with that in itself, but they cannot also pretend this is to help them prepare for their Test series.

When you step off the plane for the rugby Sevens tournament in Hong Kong there is a buzz about the place, but that simply isn’t here yet. Why not invite a Test team such as Tonga or Fiji, who would relish this honour in their 100th year as a union, to face the Lions? Even better, playing England or France would bring this fixture so much spice and be infinitely more valuable to players and coaches.



Lessons need to be learned from day one. In 2005, I knew as head coach we had to play a game before we flew to New Zealand to make the sums add up, so we organised a game against Argentina in Cardiff. It was a full-on Test and a good start to the tour.

The motivation of wearing the red shirt will be massive for the Lions compared to the Barbarians and one look at the strength of the team named by Warren Gatland on Thursday makes it clear this is going to be a cricket score. Of the 23-man squad, 17 have never played for the side before, but the six veteran Lions have 430 caps between them and have played in 19 Lions Tests, so this offers a perfect blend of youth and experience.

Big freeze: Paul O'Connell - who will be captain on Saturday - has an ice bath in Hong Kong

Sam Warburton’s knee injury is a concern, but his absence also shows just how strong the back row is on this tour. Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Justin Tipuric are a devastating trio who could start the first Test — a nice balance of a great tackler, ball carrier and scavenger in the back row.

On the bench lurks Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip, a powerful runner who could make a devastating impact late in the game against the burning lungs and tired legs of the Barbarians, a scratch team who have not had time to get organised defensively.

Against a team of this power the Barbarians will not have the defensive structure or commitment to stop the Lions. Only three of their players — scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili, hooker Schalk Brits and No 8 Sergio Parisse — can match their opposite number man for man.

Dynamic: Faletau (right) and Tipuric (centre) join Lydiate the back row

Next up for the Lions on Wednesday are the Western Force, who are well rested and have beaten New Zealand’s Super Rugby heavyweights the Crusaders and the Highlanders at home this season. They will be well organised and so difficult to break down — it will be a totally different game, tight, brutal and a huge shock to the system.

When I played for the Lions in 1980 and 1983 that first game was of monumental importance — it was always against a good, tough side — as getting off on the right foot and building momentum towards the first Test is crucial.



We flew out to the country 10 days before the first game to bed in with the squad together and get used to the climate and culture. It built up to a first game in a packed stadium to kick things off.

Young guns: Stuart Hogg (left) and Owen Farrell both start in the back line in Hong Kong

Pulling on the Lions jersey for the first time is a feeling you cherish for ever, but you don’t imagine doing it in front of 20,000 empty seats.

This tour to Australia is a potential banana skin for the Lions because everything suggests they should win the series. But this first game against the Barbarians is not a step forward in the right direction. It is simply a sidestep.