It is not the optimum moment to wonder whether there is still a point to Barbarians rugby – the reincarnation of George Kruis as the world’s greatest goalkicker was far from the only memorable aspect of the invitation team’s marmalisation of England – but the question remains a live one.
No-one asks it about the New Zealand Maori, who, on the face of it, are also a “scratch” side with a fixture list best described as occasional.
They are altogether a more serious concern, to the extent that they would be potential quarter-finalists at any World Cup.
Only four “senior” All Blacks were named i...