Blame me, says Henry

The Welsh Rugby Union had said caps would be awarded for the match, and only on Thursday Henry said the question of whether it was a capped game was "beyond my control."

The public and the media were certainly led to believe it was a full international with caps being given and the WRU were anxious for a big crowd to boost their finances.

Hence when the side was announced last Tuesday and it was written that Gavin Henson would be the youngest outside half to be capped by Wales in 100 years, for example, no-one contradicted it.

But the players were told last week that caps would not be awarded. The reason appears to be money, the hard-up WRU saved around £100, 000 on not having to award caps and pay the players accordingly.

Asked to explain the confusion after yesterday's game Henry said: "It was never part of the deal to award caps," though he did not indicate that in the build-up to the match.

"You can't have a capped game when you are going to take your Lions off, it belittles the occasion," he explained.

"It was not the type of game to award caps. I probably changed the WRU's mind. If you want to blame anyone blame me."

And he even had a go at the media, saying: "I don't think it's an issue. It was a good game so why make a negative issue over something that doesn't matter?

"I suppose you've got to find something negative to write about."

Barbarians coach Bob Dwyer, the former Australia coach, believes his countrymen are worried about the forthcoming British Lions series. "The Lions are a real threat," he said. "They will start favourites for the series, they're very strong up front and Australia are very worried about that."

Joost van der Westhuizen failed to score his seventh try in as many matches against Wales.

He continues to be linked with Newport, but astonishingly this world star is not wanted by the club for a variety of reasons though he would be available to them, whatever is said to the contrary.