HIS SPORTING LIFE: Barbarians show rugby how to let imagination flourish

AS the clock ticked past 80 minutes in last Saturday's clash between the Barbarians and New Zealand at Twickenham, the renowned invitation side decided to pull one of their party tricks from up their sleeve.

Having been awarded a penalty in their own half which gave the Baa-Baas one last play, fly-half Robert du Preez place-kicked the ball across the field and set in motion a move which led to George Bridge finishing under the posts for a try.

Ultimately, it proved little more than a consolation score for the Barbarians as they went down 31-22 to the All Blacks. But what it did show is what can be achieved with a little imagination.

Although their prominence has slipped during rugby union's professional era, their carefree, attacking approach endures - at odds with the more structured, systems-orientated route both codes have taken at the highest levels.

That was underlined by the Baa-Baas attempting the old up-the-jumper ploy in their recent match against Australia, albeit unsuccessfully after the resulting try was disallowed by referee Brendon Pickerill for being "unsportsmanlike".

But as revered Australian coach Daryl Haberecht, whose use of the same trick led to it being banned, once opined: "The laws of the game tell you what you can't do; only the imagination limits what you can do."

Haberecht was well-known for devising all sorts of cunning set plays to outwit opponents, but perhaps the freedom of the amateur era allowed such ideas to flourish.

After all, what player or coach is going to attempt something outside the box in the modern day when the stakes arguably higher than they have ever been - especially financially - and the scrutiny much more intense?

This conservative thinking has been evident during the Rugby League World Cup, particularly in the case of one team racking up a lopsided scoreline against another.

How many times during the group stages have we seen the losing team, after conceding a try simply trotting back to halfway, hoofing the ball long downfield and going through the whole miserable process again?

So it seems even the short kick-off is becoming a thing of the past - why? In cases like this especially, when teams have nothing to lose, then surely it is better to try something different?

But then again, no-one was ever criticised for doing the "safe" thing.

Try telling that to Kevin Kelley though. The coach of the Pulaski Academy Bruins high school team has spent his entire career eschewing the conventional wisdom of American football with great success.

Realising there was no way his team could compete against the traditional powerhouses of Texas high school football in the usual way, Kelley took a statistically-minded approach which has transformed the team's fortunes.

Pulaski therefore always kick off short, rarely punt on fourth down and run a whole host of plays others see as tricks, but which Kelley simply sees as like any other.

Perhaps him and the Barbarians could inspire coaches elsewhere.

ASSUMING Wayne Bennett departs as England coach following the conclusion of his two-year contract, one wonders exactly what his legacy in the role might be?

The gruff Australian has done little to endear himself to the fans during his tenure and his monosyllabic interview with the BBC's Dave Woods in the wake of last Saturday's win over Lebanon did little to change that.

Of course, the Aussie media will tell you that was just a case of Wayne being Wayne, and it is probably fair to surmise he does not really care what anyone outside of the team thinks of him.

Odd team selections and perceived moribund displays have led many to wonder about his position as well, although it is debatable as to whether another coach would have done better with the resources available.

Still, if England go on to lift the Rugby League World Cup in Brisbane on December 2 then no-one will be asking those questions any more.

Misplaced optimism? Maybe, but what a legacy that would be for Bennett to leave.

IF ever there was a fixture which could do without any sort of officiating controversy, it is England versus Germany.

Tofiq Bahramov and Jorge Larrionda are just two match officials whose names have gone down in the annals of the history of this fixture for goals awarded or otherwise.

And while tomorrow night's match at Wembley might be just a friendly rather than a crucial World Cup match, Polish referee Pawel Raczkowski will no doubt hope to avoid any controversial moments.

That is perhaps even more the case for his compatriot and colleague Pawel Gil, for he is the man who is charged with acting as video assistant referee for the system's first use on these shores.

Goal-line technology has, of course, been in operation in the Premier League for several years and was extended down to the Championship for the 2017/18 season after proving successful.

So, at least any future meetings between these two nations at a World Cup would not see any more controversy like Geoff Hurst's did-it-or-didn't-it goal in 1966 and Frank Lampard's it-definitiely-did-but-wasn't-given in 2010.

But by contrast, the VAR system has endured something of a clunky introduction and was widely ridiculed at this summer's Confederations Cup where its botched implementation created as many problems as it solved.

Those members of the Germany squad who ply their trade in the Bundesliga might have greeted the news the VAR will be in use at Wembley with a weary sigh too, having seen first-hand the problems it has caused there this year.

The problems first arose last month when respected German football publication Kicker revealed VARs had been going beyond their remit of advising on goals, penalties, straight red cards and cases of mistaken identity, and intervening in any occasion they thought the on-field official was wrong.

What is worse is the clubs were not informed of this change in policy until October 25 in a letter from the head of the refereeing committee. This was then compounded with DFB president Reinhard Grindel denying he had any knowledge of these changes or the letter.

Even this week, Hellmut Krug was replaced as head of the VAR centre, while fans have voiced complaints the game is being slowed down as a result of its introduction.

Hopefully the talking points from tomorrow will be about what happens on the pitch instead.

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