The unacceptable face of professionalism?

Did you see the Barbarians v South Africa match on Saturday? The first half in particular was as good as it gets - would that we could see rugby played like that every week. And yet the whole concept of the Barbarians is under threat - English clubs are not willing to release their players, presumably for fear of injury. There were only two Englishmen in the starting line-up, one of whom no longer plays club rugby, and the other - who still does - was playing against the express instructions of his club side. Had it not been for the foreign contingent, mainly New Zealand players, it's doubtful if the Ba-Bas would have been able to put out a competitive side. There is no more striking example of the way the ethos of the game in this country has been corrupted by money.