How important are the BaaBaas Games?

Got to thinking over the weekend abut how important the BaaBaas games are.
Just to clarify, i mean how important are they to the teams playing against the Barbarians. I still think the Barbarians tradition is a great one.

Considering that the stadiums are normally not even half full it would suggest that they are of little importance to the home team fans but conversely i got the distinct impression that this game was important for the Welsh team this weekend. With a view to the WC a win would have went over very well, where normally a BaaBaas game counts for very little.

Poll included

Thoughts?

It was an importnat part of the build up for Wales, all of that side could be at the world cup.
Deosnt mean the fans would take it seriously though.

The England game was a joke, and rightly not a full cap international. Only a handful of players will be anywhere near the world cup squad.

In terms of wanting to win of course they do. But at the same time the players arent going to go as much all out as they would in a final.

[quote="Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler"]It was an importnat part of the build up for Wales, all of that side could be at the world cup.


I blinking hope not, Bennett shouldn't go, Andrews shouldn't go and neither should Yapp even though he didn't play.

They certainly not the crowd puller they once use to be but its an ever expanding and expensive season.

It's good for young players such as Faletau, Burns, Bevington and Williams to experience the Squad atmosphere and for coaches to see how they react in that environment. They can also be a good chance for playres returning from injury or sabbatical lol.

I like the Baa Baa's traditions and history, but the game is only what the players and management make of it.

I personally really like the baa baa tests. A great chance to see some of the best players come together and see what they can do.

Equally a stern test for whoever is playing them.

They are hugely important, but the mystique should be preserved. Don't kill the goose that laid the golden egg by playing them too often.

I enjoy the BaaBaa's games, although its been 10 years since I last went to one live. They are great to watch though and most of the matches against big international teams get 20-30k spectators.

I heard something a bit odd though - am I right in thinking that Wales awarded their players test caps for playing against the BaaBaas this weekend?
If thats true, how come England game was a non-test match?
I'm not interested in starting a Wales-England slanging match, just wondered on the possible reasons?

Probably so stephen jones could get to 100 caps and to cap faletau so tonga can never cap him

propdavid_london wrote:I enjoy the BaaBaa's games, although its been 10 years since I last went to one live. They are great to watch though and most of the matches against big international teams get 20-30k spectators.

I heard something a bit odd though - am I right in thinking that Wales awarded their players test caps for playing against the BaaBaas this weekend?
If thats true, how come England game was a non-test match?
I'm not interested in starting a Wales-England slanging match, just wondered on the possible reasons?

The union involved can choose to award caps where-ever it likes. So hence All Blacks games vs New South Wales in the 1920s count as full test caps (NSW was the only Aussie state playing organised RU at the time, the Queensland union folded for a while after WWI due to casualties amongst it's playing ranks). And in 1949 2 All Blacks teams lost test matches on the same day - one team was touring South Africa with no Maori players, while an almost 2nd string side (bolstered by Maori players the Saffas asked not be selected for the main side) lost to Australia.

Thanks Kiwireddevil.
Ah, I was under the impression that it had to be a match between 2 national sides.

I wonder then what Gatlands motivation was to award test caps? I've only seen the highlights but it did look to be test intensity.
Where to me the England game lacked some of that spark - it certainly had the feel of a Saxon game.

I thought the WRU was handing caps out for this match to celebrate their 130 years in existence? Some random reason like that anyway.

Interesting, this question of CAP's being awarded.

Seems MJ was not willing to award caps for what is for all purposes a friendly.

Maybe the question should also be asked: Why MJ gave no caps?
and not just why Gatland/WRU gave caps.

Is MJ developing an ethos of "you've got to earn your caps for this team" kind of thing?

Probably the right thing to do in-fact. I tend to agree that perhaps the BaBass games should not qualify as a full international cap...

DingBat Man - there is that.
The levels of intensity were certainly different between the two Baabaa matches.
To my mind there were more potential 1st teamers in the Welsh squad than there were playing for England. As I said before - the intensity appeared to be greater, and maybe that has more to it than just the incentive of a CAP.
I like the idea about MJ stating that the England youngsters have to earn their caps - maybe it was also an issue with Lancaster being the top dog for that game and MJ taking a back seat! (Although I am sure MJ had some influence on selection).