DESPITE a strong performance from the Australian Barbarians the NSW Country Eagles' Development Squad, as expected, proved far too strong for the compilation side on Saturday.
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Played at Wade Park as the curtain-raiser to the National Rugby Championship (NRC) clash between NSW Country and the Melbourne Rising, the Eagles' Development Squad ran in eight tries to three in a 63-18 romp.
The match was played under the new adapted NRC rules forcing both sides to forsake kicking for running rugby, putting on a show for the parochial Orange crowd.
"It was satisfying, we only really came together last night," Eagles' Development Squad coach Matt McRobert, a former Bathurst Bulldogs and Central West Blue Bulls coach, said.
"We've come from Dubbo, Sydney, Newcastle and everywhere else, to see the guys bond together today and play very well was great.
"I can't speak highly enough of all the boys, they've been working hard and were fantastic today."
Showing too much class from kick-off to final whistle, the Eagles opened the scoring in just the eighth minute through prop Sione Kolo.
On the back of an abundance of possession inside the Barbarians' half Kolo channelled All Blacks legend Richie McCaw, taking the chance to sneak over the ruck via a pick and drive to cross.
Five-eighth Mitch Walton added the extras, making the score 8-nil.
Barbarians', and Orange Emus', winger Carter Hirini botched a chance just minutes after to even the keel, dropping the ball over the line.
Using severe dominance with ball in hand as a buoy, the Eagles ran in three more tries in the first half through Tim Deschusne, Kolo and Liam Faughlin.
However the Barbarians also grabbed one of their own through Tyson Tamihere to take the score to 32-5 at half-time.
The Barbarians nabbed another just half the break through Emus' other star winger Tom Green, who brushed off several would-be tacklers to score in the left corner.
From there however, it became a black and gold show as the Eagles' onslaught began.
The Eagles ran in another four tries to one in the second period to secure the 45-point win.
Parkes Boars' phenom Mahe Fangupo crossed twice, while Faughlin grabbed his second and third and a conversion.
The Barbarians grabbed one more consolation try through Shane Imo, but it was to no avail, the game had already been put to bed.
Adding a bit of novelty to the finish, referee Nathan Pearce answered the call to attempt the final conversion. He missed, badly.
"We knew with the condition out guys had if we did the simple things well the score would come but no, we weren't expecting the result to be that big," McRobert laughed.
Barbarians' coach Mick Magriplis was diplomatic after loss, despite finding few positives.
One of which however, was his side's dominant scrum which bullied the Eagles' pack around for much of the game.
"We're actually missing several blokes to the (Super Rugby and NRC) franchises," he said.
"But more than anything I think the boys' legs blew out toward the end. It was a fitness thing.
"We have a lot of experienced guys in the scrum and it showed."
NSW COUNTRY EAGLES DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 63 (Liam Faughlin 3, Sione Kolo 2, Mahe Fangupo 2, Tim Duschene tries; Mitch Walton 5, Faughlin conv) def AUSTRALIAN BARBARIANS 18 (Tyson Tamihere, Tom Green, Shane Imo tries; Charlie Clifton conv.)
