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Rico Syme impresses in NZ Barbarians debut
By Ben Smith
The New Zealand Schoolboy Barbarians, or more accurately ‘B’ side, has proven to be just as talented and heralded as the main over the years. Whilst the latter is on track to make new records on their Australian tour, the Barbarians have been in camp and quietly performing with two victories of their own. Last week’s 33-19 victory over the Tongan Schoolboys offered the chance to see more of New Zealand’s top talent perform. Here are our three top performers of the match and names to watch out for in the future.
Rico Syme
The Christchurch Boys High star, who we highlighted a couple of weeks ago, missed out on NZ schoolboys selection but started fullback for the Barbarians. With his second touch of the day, Syme burned through the Tongan defence for a 50m try. He was nearly unstoppable on the dry fast track, utilising his lightning speed to create a number of breaks. He finished with a try, try assist, three line breaks and eight defenders beaten in a little over one half of rugby. His involvement in two tries ended up being the difference between the teams on the scoreboard.
Taine Te Whata
The Otago Boys' openside impressed with an all-round performance, slowing down Tongan ball with a number of contested rucks, defending stoutly off set piece and strong ball carrying through the Tongan defence. His high work rate was consistent for the whole match, contributing the ‘1 percenters’ that are often unheralded keys to winning. The Southland product will return next year to the Southland Rugby academy on a two-year deal.
Fergus Burke
The young Hamilton pivot’s mercurial kicking steered the Barbarians around the park, putting the Tongan’s into pressure situations which often led to good field position for the Barbarians. Burke’s out-of-hand kicking is phenomenal, with a range of up to 60m, would be welcomed by any pro side. Burke’s distribution was adequate and he also bagged a short-range try late in the match. Burke has been picked up by the Crusaders academy, and will likely flourish in the system down south that has a reputation of producing quality first fives.
See the match highlights of the Barbarians win here.
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Latest Comments
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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