Australian Barbarians secure series sweep over Heartland XV

The Australian Barbarians have claimed a second straight win over New Zealand’s Hearland XV to secure a series sweep, recording a 40-29 victory in Whanganui. 

Early tries to Jed Gillespie, Jerome McKenzie and Dewet Roos saw the Barbarians claim a 21-nil lead before the home slide posted their first points with a penalty, leaving the score at 21-3 just 20 minutes into the match. 

The Barbarians scored a further two-tries through Roos and Isaac Thompson before half-time to give the Barbarians a comfortable 33-10 lead. 

Thompson crossed in the second half for his double to increase the Barbarians’ lead to 40-10, before the Heartland side scored their second try to narrow the gap to 40-17 with 12 minutes left on the clock. 

Heartland crossed for a further two-tries to trail by 11-points, 40-29, with two minutes remaining in the game. 

The Barbarians held out the Heartland side in the dying minutes to secure the win, 40-29. 

The series between the Australian Barbarians and the Heartland XV provided a further representative opportunity to non-contracted club Rugby players who played in the 2015 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC). 

McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City forwards Ben Hyne and Waita Setu, as well as Bond University Queensland Country lock Phil Potgieter, all featured for the Barbarians in both matches.