Sam Burgess enjoyed a mixed bag on England debut at the weekend, showing some nice touches and combining well with fellow debutant Henry Slade at times, but also giving away a stupid yellow card and showing a touch of naivety in general.
Burgess and Slade are competing with Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees for Rugby World Cup places, with Jonathan Joseph and Brad Barritt almost certain to be selected.
What can’t be denied is the physicality Burgess brings to the England backline – check out a selection of his biggest hits from the weekend:
Sam Burgess distribue les caramels contre les… by Le-Rugbynistere
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Glad the issue of that yellow has come up here (because it’s been largely ignored elsewhere). It was a stupid moment of indiscipline – as was Slade taking out Parra in the air, which he was bloody lucky to get away with.
I think England got away very lightly, but these incidents can turn a game against a better organised and more clinical opposition. I don’t think we’ll get away with playing with 13 against the All Blacks again!
That said, I think both players did enough to put themselves in contention, while 12T came on too late to prove anything really. Just have to watch how the others get on in Paris.
I think so. Granted we haven’t seen how other players got on in pre-season training, I just can’t imagine 36 being anything other than the liability he too often proves himself to be. At the moment, I would say drop him and include Slade (or his footballing skills) and Burgess (his powerful presence in the midfield is as close to Tuilagi as we’re going to get, he can defend well, and that power might be needed should we come up against SA, Samoa, Pumas etc at any stage)
I voted yes, but I’d also vote yes for a similar poll on Slade. I’m aware though that this is highly unfair given that Barritt and Joseph are shoe ins and a true poll can only come after Burrell and Twelvetrees have had more opportunity.
Sorry but both yellows were unwarranted. The Burgess incident should have been ano pen and an extra 10 yards. Thought Clark ‘ s clear out was legit. And as for Slade, it was a penalty nothing more. Yes he was early but Parra landed on his feet there was nothing dangerous. Rugby is really getting soft if people think that those were yellow card offences.
People talk about Burgess’ “naivety”.for the foul but over look Piccamoles headbutt on Slade which Lacey also overlooked (along with any other French foul play). Experienced Rugby players make errors too, why are Burgess’ errors always attributed to his lack of union experience. It utter b*llocks.
Clark’s clear out is the only one of those I felt was even close to a cardable offence.
Since when was not being 10 from a tapped penalty an offence meriting a card (unless its right on the try line)? As you say, it should have been another penalty and a further 10.
Like you say, plenty was ignored by Lacey, not least the awful trip on Care
Glad it’s not just me! Parra cleverly played for the pen, but even he must have pinched himself when Sam got yellow!
Apparently we no longer check and/ or penalise foul play when the ball is dead? That was news to me. Should be tasty on Saturday!
Votes hugely in favour of Burgess going to RWC, I think this reflects his ability to impact in attack and defense which doesn’t seem to be the case for any of the other 12 options (counting Slade as a 13). He may be inexperienced and get caught out of position occasionally but seems to bring more positives than negatives.