Now, it’s dangerous to read too much into a certain player’s performance in an uncapped match, particularly when it comes to the Harlem Globetrotters of rugby, Barbarian F.C.
The whole point of this invitational side is to bring players together from across the globe, to entertain, to showcase their individual skills, and to embrace an occasion free from the scrutiny of international Test matches.
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That’s no different this afternoon at Allianz Stadium, where the Baa-Baas face Wales in an uncapped contest. But the Welsh rugby public will be watching closely, how one particular player gets on.
Coached by former New Zealand boss Scott Robertson, they have 19 internationals from 11 different nations in their squad. The likes of South African World Cup winners Faf de Klerk, who will captain the side and Vincent Koch.
Australia’s Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and France’s Romain Taofifenua, Jordan Joseph, Tom Spring and Yoan Tanga. And of course, a Welsh great, George North, who has come out of retirement for this special occasion.
They’ll all be playing freely, away from the anticipation of what awaits Steve Tandy’s Wales side, as the Nations Championship gets underway next Saturday.
The Wales head coach has named a relatively strong starting XV that is available to him, and yet there is one looming question surrounding his selections.
Flexibility is paramount when picking a squad for a summer tour because best-laid plans can be shredded in the unluckiest of circumstances. That’s happened to Wales already this summer.
And interestingly, in this low-stakes scenario in south-west London, there’s a major talking point about who plays at hooker for Wales.
That’s where Dragons RFC’s Elliot Dee comes into the conversation after Cardiff Rugby’s captain, Liam Belcher, has left the Welsh set-up due to injury.
And that’s why today, Dee’s second consecutive weekend playing for the Baa-Baas feels different. He’s playing with a point to prove, and in reality, he’s been doing exactly that in the United Rugby Championship.
Since Tandy took the helm, Dee has fallen down the pecking order. After playing last weekend in Gqeberha, South Africa, this occasion in Twickenham comes with an edge.
His club teammate, Dillon Lewis, highlighted during the week how much Dee would look forward to playing against Wales, but this spectacle could see the experienced hooker bite down on his gumshield and make a statement.
Not that long ago, the 32-year-old was a regular in Welsh squads and was selected consistently. The 55-times capped international was more often than not a trusted finisher (what replacements are called nowadays), but now looks in from the outside.
“I have no doubt in my mind Elliot will be gunning for it, which is what we want,” said Tandy, on what it is going to be like playing against the hooker.
“That’s what we want. We want more competition from boys who haven’t been in this squad. We want it to be competitive.
“We want a competitive group, and we want competitive selections. That position is something we probably have a little bit of depth in.
“The more competition we create, the better it is for our game moving forward.”
This summer is massive for Wales, and those joyous performances during the final matches of the Six Nations need to turn into positive results this summer. But for Dee, his summer and season will finish today. No 12,000 air miles travelled, no facing Fiji, Argentina or South Africa, and no other way to express himself.
That’s what makes his selection for the Barbarians so fascinating. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup quickly on the horizon, players such as Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Evan Lloyd, and Belcher will have already established themselves amongst the new regime of Tandy.
Dee’s continuous omission suggests he is no longer at the forefront of Wales’ thinking, albeit according to Tandy, he’s adding to the competition. This is all despite continuing to produce consistent performances for the Dragons.
Despite being a part of last Saturday’s thumping 80-31 loss against the Springboks, this time around, the enjoyment of representing the Barbarians will go out the window as Dee has the chance to demonstrate the qualities that made him so dependable for Wales in the past.
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