The Barbarians took on the Czech Republic in a challenge match tonight in Prague, and it went about as expected.
Consisting mostly of semi-pros, the Czechs are currently ranked 32nd in the world, one behind Switzerland and one ahead of Ukraine, so the evening was more about the spectacle rather than the result, which is good because the Babas won 71-0 with a team full of internationals.
REMINDER: Tonight's team with a late change - Nanai replaces Naiyaravaro at 11. Buckman onto bench #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby pic.twitter.com/NglPw7V3YP
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
The gulf in class was clear, but the real star of the evening was whoever was behind the official twitter account of the Barbarians as he kept fans around the world informed as to what was going on... As well as some seriously random facts about the Czech Republic.
We've compiled some of the best tweets to form a sort of match report, and it makes for highly entertaining reading.
Here's a #FactCzech to set the scene before KO - #CzechRepublic are ranked 32nd in world & have 5 pros #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Czech captain is a semi-pro cage fighter & a Policeman. Don't break law or they'll send him to find you ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
TRY! Superb @nicstirz break setting off like greyhound chasing a rabbit & offloads to @SmithKwagga 0-7 (7) #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Slashing @nanai_melani break ends in scrum. Czechs invented contact lens so we'll give ref benefit of doubt #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Our handling isn't up to scratch yet. We're dropping balls like a hungry Jeremy Clarkson 'drops' producers #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Powerful @nanai_melani surge then a pen. No idea why. But, I don't understand why people wear crocs either #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
TRY! Mr 5000 @MattFaddes himself sears his way over from 60m out. Like a Samsung Note 7, he's on fire. 0-19 #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
TRY! @nanai_melani shows sort of footwork Ed Balls is dreaming about on Strictly Come Dancing. Ooosh! 0-31 #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Czechs clear from their own line - A Czexit? - & it's HT. Entertaining stuff in the blistering cold. 0-31 #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
We're back on field but Czechs aren't yet, assume they're in dressing room but'll send someone to Czech ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Baa Baas on the attack with back of hand passes, chips ahead & more flair than a 70s disco #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Another #FactCzech for you lucky people - Only 16% of Czechs believe in God. 100% believe in Sonny Bill ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Sections of crowd are bouncing. It could be the cold, or it could be those delicious £1 beers. 0-38 (46) #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
He's built like a flanker & hits harder than late tax bill, but classy @RobduPreez10 adds extras 0-45 (54) #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
#FactCzech - The sugar cube was invented in Czech Republic & tea has never been the same again ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
TRY! Another for @MattFaddes as he finishes off flowing move with flourish & brings up the Shane Watson (half century) #rugby #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
A gorilla escaped London Zoo & downed 5 litres of squash but Czech's effort tonight has been far more impressive ? #rugby #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Crowd volume rises. No Mexican waves but bouncing continues. No pints being spilt so technique must be sound. 0-50 (64) #rugby #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
The big man Ben Franks is warming up in a beanie. Looks like a late night security guard in it but I ain't telling him #rugby #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Outstanding attack from Czechs. Crossfield chip & gather. Unlike a Justin Bieber concert, that was poetry in motion #rugby #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
TRY! It's the South African Scrum Doctor Schalk van der Merwe. Lovely stuff form the big man to canter over 0-62 (71) #rugby #rugbyunited
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Czechs are hanging in there & doing a phenomenal job considering they're semi-pro. Great stuff gents ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
#FactCzech - Highest beer consumption per capita in the world. Told you they were good blokes! ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
FULLTIME - Finished 0-71 but #rugby is the real winner here. Thank you for being such great hosts ? #rugby #rugbyunited #worldrugby
— Barbarian FC (@Barbarian_FC) November 8, 2016
Fantastic stuff.
We can only assume most of those 71 points came from outstanding, free-flowing rugby, as there are no highlights available just yet, but do we really need them after such vivid and informative tweeting?
The Baba's twitter delivers again, well worth a follow if you're a rugby fan.
