During the Barbarians awesome clash with Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, South African Marnitz Boshoff scored a try that oozed Barbarianse-sque Rugby bravado.

For the Rugby purist, this try had it all: brave running from inside their own 22, Nick The Honey Badger Cummins and some awesome offloading.

It proved to be too little too late, as Australia sneaked the win by four points, but, truly, Rugby was the winner.

In the day of professionalism, it’s great to see that the Barbarians ethos still runs true.

Youtube Credit: Stunning Rugby.

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Spanning well into its third month, this case is a crucial test for the ARU’s new contracting system for players of national interest. It highlights the conflicting priorities of the Super Rugby franchises and the union that bankrolls them. The ARU’s offer is a clear signal to the 24-year-old workhorse forward that, despite his seminal contribution to the Waratahs’ campaign this season, he is still just a bench second-rower in the eyes of Ewen McKenzie, as the Queensland partnership of James Horwill and Rob Simmons is still preferred by the Wallabies coach.

Where it gets tricky is the Waratahs’ strategic importance to the ARU. Bill Pulver contends that the success of the ARU as a business relies heavily on the performance of the NSW franchise. After the departure of Rebels lock Hugh Pyle to France trimming local talent even further, Cheika will likely start looking offshore for Douglas’ replacement if he does indeed head to the Aviva.

How can Pulver balance the constraints of the ARU’s financial situation with the need to keep Australia’s most valuable players in the country? A difficult task, and one that needs to be addressed soon.

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