” END OF AN ERA: Whitelock’s Farewell Sparks Barbarians’ Electrifying Win Over Fiji at Twickenham”.
The All Blacks’ Whitelock bows as the Barbarians overcome Fiji.
In a thrilling match at Twickenham, former All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock led the Barbarians to a thrilling 45-32 victory over Fiji. The 35-year-old forward, who won two World Cups with New Zealand, was met with thunderous applause from all sections of the stadium as he left the field late in the game.
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.
Jonny May, a former winger for England, scored twice for the Barbarians. Lachlan Boshier, Zach Mercer, Chay Fihaki, and New Zealand international Leicester Fainga’anuku also scored tries for the team.
In addition, former Wallabies prop Scott Sio and Gold Coast-born Jack Cornelsen, son of Wallaby Greg Cornelsen of the 1970s and 1980s and international representative for Japan, were included for the Barbarians. The star-studded Baa-Baas, led by former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, were pushed hard by Fiji, who scored seven additional points from five-eighth Caleb Muntz and Kemueli Valentini in addition to Momo’s three tries.
