Robinson Offers Final Flourish of Fantasy Rugby to Revive Barbarian Ideal

Not since Gareth Edwards' glory dash in 1973 has a Barbarian display left such indelible memories. Jason Robinson could not have enjoyed a more fitting curtain call to a marvelous career and, when Mark Regan reports back to Bristol this morning, he deserves his club's congratulations rather than censure. Only a po-faced killjoy would fine him for giving so much pleasure to so many.

If nothing else Regan and co have breathed fresh life into the Barbarian concept, the precise outcome Premier Rugby seemed most anxious to avoid. The first 50-odd minutes could scarcely have been a better advertisement for rugby union as the world champions, albeit without the spine of their World Cup-winning XV, grappled with gifted opponents who had not flown in for a game of pat-a-cake. The result was that rare joy: fantasy rugby with a genuine edge.

Martyn Williams, the fine Welsh flanker, described the experience as "one of the highlights of my career" and the Barbarian committee were equally thrilled. Obtaining the release of players is getting harder but here was timely proof that world-class players can be thrown together at short notice and still beat top international sides. This result might even encourage the Lions to believe they can conjure a similar trick in South Africa in 2009.

The Barbarians can also peer into an uncertain future with rather more confidence. Plans are afoot to meet Australia this time next year with the Baa-Baas facing England and Ireland at the end of this season. The Ireland game, strange to relate, is set to be staged at Twickenham on the eve of the Irish squad's departure from Heathrow for New Zealand. There is a perverse logic there somewhere.

Experimenting with the unorthodox, however, is the Barbarians' specialty. Even Jake White, the World Cup-winning Springbok coach, remains a committed fan of the black-and-white hooped minstrels despite his side's failure to subdue such men as Jerry Collins, Ma'a Nonu and Matt Giteau on Saturday. "These fixtures are part of rugby union ... we don't want to chisel away these memories," said White. "Besides, I might want to coach them myself one day."

If it was not the send-off White might have wanted as he steps aside, the pleasure on Robinson's face told its own story. One classic jinking burst past four or five players on Saturday was worth the admission alone but, at 33, he swears he will decline all offers to prolong his career, with the exception of a solitary testimonial match in June. He is donating his £4,000 match fee to a Christian Aid charity called Door of Hope and is keen to raise more money to support abandoned babies, as well as spending more time with his family. Others can hail him as the greatest of all cross-code players but he says his greatest satisfaction was in never letting his team-mates down. "When I started my career I just wanted to be consistent. If I weigh up the last 15 years I've almost done that."

As Billy Whizz eases into his rocking chair - he has no desire to coach or manage at the top level - he will take with him a kaleidoscope of farewell images. The Barbarians scored three tries and would have had a couple more had Nonu and Giteau not slipped at crucial moments. Williams' chip and subsequent score crowned a masterclass in intelligent open-side play and the imagination of Giteau and others was a delight.

Even when South Africa had the ball there was scant respite, with Joe Rokocoko's stunning corner-flag tackle on Ryan Kankowski a notable highlight. "That was some of the best defense I've ever seen in my life," marveled the Springbok captain Johann Muller, acknowledging the absence of Schalk Burger and Bakkies Botha had deprived his side of their usual physicality. But as White pointed out, the 2007 Boks can still head for the beach without regret. When it really mattered, as with Robinson, they rarely disappointed.

Barbarians: Robinson (England; Grant, Stormers, 67); Rokocoko (New Zealand), Smith (New Zealand; Shanklin, Wales, 58), Nonu (New Zealand), Neivua (Fiji; Cohen, England, 63); Giteau (Australia), Marshall (New Zealand); Pucciarello (Italy), Regan (England, capt; Brits, Stormers, 51), Ma'afu (Brumbies; Moller, Stormers, 51), Cockbain (Wales; Flavell, New Zealand, 51), Harrison (Ulster & Australia; Owen, Wales, 63), J Collins (New Zealand), M Williams (Wales), Elsom (Australia).

Tries Giteau, Williams, Elsom. Cons Giteau 2. Pen Giteau.

South Africa: Pienaar (Sharks); Ndungane (Bulls; Julies, Bulls, 71), Fourie (Lions), Steyn (Sharks), Habana (Bulls); Pretorius (Lions; Olivier, Bulls, 32), Januarie (Lions; Jantjes, Lions, 43); Van der Linde (Cheetahs; J du Plessis, Cheetahs, 75), B du Plessis (Sharks; Liebenberg,Stormers, 71), J du Plessis (Cheetahs; Van der Merwe, Lions, 43), Muller (Sharks, capt), Ackermann (Sharks; Van den Berg, Sharks, 54), Pieterse (Cheetahs; Lobberts, Bulls, 65), Smith (Cheetahs), Kankowski (Sharks).

Try Pieterse.

Sin-bin Flavell 70.

Referee C Berdos (France). Attendance 58,186.