Review: Barbarians defeat Fiji, and Whitelock of the All Blacks bows out.
In an exciting match at Twickenham, former All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock led the Barbarians to a dramatic 45-32 victory over Fiji, capping off a career well.
As he departed the field late in the game, the 35-year-old forward—who has won two World Cups with New Zealand—was met with thunderous acclaim from every corner of the stadium in southwest London.
Against a free-flowing Fijian team coached by Australian Mick Byrne, Whitelock and England star David Ribbans put on a confident show at lock.
Epeli Momo, who plays for the Drua in Super Rugby Pacific, led the excellent Fijians with a hat-trick, but they were defeated in an exhausting match.
The Barbarians were led in scoring by former England winger Jonny May, who scored twice. Lachlan Boshier, Zach Mercer, Chay Fihaki, and New Zealand international Leicester Fainga’anuku all scored for the team.
For the Barbarians, Gold Coast-born Jack Cornelsen (son of former Wallaby Greg Cornelsen of the 1970s and 1980s), who plays international rugby for Japan, and former Wallabies prop Scott Sio were also included.
Kemueli Valentini’s ten points and seven more from five-eighth Caleb Muntz added to Momo’s three tries as the star-studded Baa-Baas, led by former Wallabies mentor Robbie Deans, were pushed hard by Fiji.