Provincial stars sparkle in Baa-Baas win

Scotland 33 Barbarians 40

A star-studded Barbarians side proved just too strong for Scotland in an open Murrayfield encounter, which yielded 11 tries.

Irish fly half David Humphreys converted five of the Baa-Baas’ six tries, although Scotland number eight Allister Hogg was named man-of-the-match for a two-try performance.

Leinster stars Shane Horgan and Brian O'Driscoll and Munster's Christian Cullen shone for the Barbarians early on.

The Baa-Baas opened the scoring when scrum-half Mark Robinson wrenched the ball from Chris Cusiter and his over-the-shoulder pass found Fijian winger Vilimoni Delasau, who ran in unchallenged from the halfway line.

Scotland were then unpicked by a moment of Brian O'Driscoll magic as a superb pass allowed fellow Irishman Shane Horgan to charge forward before setting up Delasau.

The Fijian was brought down inches from the line but Robinson was on hand to pick the ball up and score.

The Murrayfield crowd finally had something to cheer when Cusiter intercepted a pass and fed Parks, who cut in from the right for a try under the posts.

Hogg then had a chance to score a second with a superb break but was pulled down a few yards from the line.

The Barbarians added a third try as Robinson and Munster full-back Christian Cullen tore Scotland apart on the right to set up Horgan.

And the Irishman made it four two minutes later as he rounded off a sweeping move started by South African number eight Bobby Skinstad.

Scotland pulled themselves back into the game early in the second half as Hogg muscled his way over the line following a break by Allan Jacobsen, who intercepted a pass near the touchline and set up a series of diving moves.

The Barbarians extended their lead when Skinstad set up Cullen for a simple score as Scotland’s defence was run ragged.

The Scots refused to be buried and came back with an excellent try by Paterson, the full-back skipping inside two defenders on the left to create just enough space to score.

Two minutes later the gap was closed still further when Jacobsen was on hand to collect and drive over the line.

Baa-baas captain Taine Randell restored the advantage, finishing off a neat move, before Hogg burst through a gap to score his second try under the posts.

Scotland poured forward in the final minutes in search of the score which would have brought them level but the Barbarians’ defence held firm.