A way we used to have in the Baa-Baas 13 Dec 2000 Not any more, it seems. To criticise a hallowed institution such as the Barbarians Football Club smacks of irreverence. Critics run the risk of being told to mind their own business and leave the trusteeship of the famous club s ideals to those entitled to pronounce on them. There is a breed of player who on his day is as unpredictably brilliant as can be, but who sometimes the obverse of such rare talent is capable, on an off-day, of the most appalling errors. No player is, of course, perfect.
All players err, even the greatest.
You are sitting there presiding over a disciplinary hearing. Players have been cited. It s a kind of law court. You ve got awesome powers. You might fine them thousands of bucks, often more thousands than they would have been fined if they d landed up in the magistrate s court for stealing sheep or drunken driving or punching the neighbour.