Fullback Tom Wright has delivered a perfect reminder of his talent as the Barbarians claimed a thumping 48-12 victory over Northampton Saints.
Wright crossed for a double and set up another as the side largely consisting of Australia A players blew out the Premiership team missing Test stars Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam.
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It wasn’t all perfect from the Brumby fullback, throwing a hospital pass in true Barbarians style that nearly cost them five points if not for an earlier knock on. However, it was an excellent night for the 23-Test Wallaby as he looks to work his way back into the national set-up
Continuity is generally the enemy of the Barbarians but with an all-Australian backline, it turned out to be a strength as they pierced open the defence, leading to the opening try to skipper Ryan Lonergan.
Flankers Seru Uru and Lachie Swinton also had strong games, with Uru impressing out of position at openside flanker.
The two combined perfectly to set up the second try. As the Saints went on the attack, Uru stole the lineout, before Swinton found the Red backing up down the short side.
Uru then came off with the pilfer after a Barbarians knock on from the break, with Wright diving over in the corner two phases later, followed over by Dylan Pietsch for a 19-0 lead.
Swinton nearly had a try of his own, held up over the line before Cadeyrn Neville dived over from short.
When Wright put Filipo Daugunu over the line thanks to an Uru cutout pass, the Barbarians had a 29-0 lead that they maintained heading into the halftime break.
The Saints eventually found the line early in the second half, although the game was well and truly out of reach as coach Jason Gilmore went to his bench.
Wright added his second with a brilliant show of attacking Rugby.
He collected a chip kick from Lonergan before stepping past the fullback as he re-gathered the ball, racing away for a great try.
Waratahs replacement prop Harry Johnson-Holmes barged over from short before Japan-based, Kiwi-half Nik McCurran sealed the win, even if Harry Wilson humorously tried to put off Reds teammate Hunter Paisami from slotting the conversion by trying to charge down his own teammates’ kick.
The Barbarians will then turn their attention to a clash with Welsh side Scarlets on September 16 (local time)
