‘No special attention for Burgess’
11 Mar 2010
The Lions haven’t worked out a particular plan to counter Luke Burgess’s attacking abilities.
The Waratahs possess big names in the backline such as Berrick Barnes and Sosene Anesi, but after four rounds Burgess has been their greatest offensive threat.
The Tahs scrumhalf was dropped by the Wallabies last year for his below-par service, but his running game has never been questioned. Although Australian No 9 incumbent Will Genia has also been impressive this season, Burgess’s form suggests Robbie Deans will be left with a pleasant selection headache.
The Tahs may have been criticised for their negative kick-first mindset against the Sharks, but they have provided enough evidence with ball in hand to show they will provide a stern test for the Lions’ inconsistent defence. Against the Bulls at Loftus they scored four tries and led 17-0 after just 10 minutes.
This was largely down to Burgess’s sniping around the fringes and putting runners into space as they repeatedly breached the advantage line. With the new law interpretations favouring attacking teams, the best place to attack has been close to the rucks as this is where the defensive alignment forms slowest and is the least organised.
Despite this, coach Dick Muir says no special attention will be placed on nullifying Burgess.
‘We haven’t worked on anything in particular, but we do see Burgess as one of their attacking threats,’ Muir told keo.co.za.
The Lions delivered their best defensive performance of the campaign last week but still conceded three tries to the Brumbies, and are the tournament’s worst defenders as their opponents have crossed the line 18 times in four matches.
With Carlos Spencer set to start at flyhalf once more after sitting out last week with a pectoral muscle injury, the Kiwi can expect a lot of traffic to come his way. Not just because of Burgess’s running ability being the central part of the Tahs’ attacking game-plan, but the former All Black isn’t a renowned defender.
In his last appearance against the Hurricanes he made just two tackles throughout his 65 minutes on the pitch, and came out of line for Piri Weepu’s try as the Canes scrumhalf ambled over under the posts.
In his 100th Super Rugby appearance, Spencer can expect a barrage of runners. The Tahs have been booed for their defensive mindset and were poor against the Sharks in Sydney, but whenever Burgess and co attacked the inside channel between the inexperienced defensive combination of Ruan Pienaar and Andy Goode, they reaped the rewards.
Tatafu Polota-Nau’s try is just one example, and the Lions – whether they are prepared or not – can expect similar treatment from the Tahs’ attack.
By Grant Ball
13 Comments
11 Mar 2010, 05:26 am
Dragon!
Burgess is a joke, not a threat. Not at S14 level, not even at Sydney Club level. He has the worst service of any S14 scrum half. He typically either 1. Passes behind or over the head of the flyhalf, 2. Runs across the paddock or 3. Stands over the ball for an age, lets the defence reset, then throws the pass behind or over the head of the flyhalf!
Thank god for Genia who is by far and away the best scrummie in Oz. Burgess can defend well but has absolutely no vision.
I hold Burgess fully accountable for Barnes having to move to 12. Halangahu stands flatter at 10. and can deal with the rubbish Burgess throws his way. Barnes, who stands deeper at 10 struggled to deal with the **** passing game Burgess brings and got smashed at 10.
11 Mar 2010, 06:07 am
@VicTahMan: I am by no means a pro on Aussie Rugby but from what Ive seen this season I’d have to dissagree. I think he has looked very dangerous with ball in hand!
11 Mar 2010, 06:11 am
@VicTahMan: You missed out option 4: Lets the defence reset who then barrel over the top of him at the ruck and steal the ball.
It was my personal favourite, until they promoted him to the Wallabies and it happened there!
Have no idea why they aren’t starting Josh Holmes. Has one of the best passing and running games of all the Aussie scrummies (just needs to harden up), and would be a much better fit for Barnes.
11 Mar 2010, 06:15 am
@Olivergm: He did last year too during the S14, where he could hide his piss-poor passing by sniping well.
At test level he was exposed because the defences are tougher and more organised, so you can’t get away with those little sniping runs every 2nd ruck.
Then his **** passing had nowhere to hide.
11 Mar 2010, 06:29 am
@Olivergm: He looked kinda good in the game against the Bulls, but then got carried away with his crabbing across the field, and now just kills all the space and ends off passing the pressure onto the player next to him.
I don’t understand how a professional scrumhalf can’t pass a ball accurately, low and flat to a player 10 metres away.
11 Mar 2010, 07:11 am
Trying my best to work out how the Lions can win this…..
11 Mar 2010, 07:23 am
@Staal: See point 4 I made above. Contesting at the breakdown is a must.
Not necessarily trying to win the ball each time, but at least being a nuisance.
Pushing the Waratahs players securing the ball backward onto Burgess gets him all pissy, and makes his passing even more erratic. He starts picking up the ball at the ruck without passing it straight away, and gets caught in possession.
After telling you all this I’m now worried he will get another chance with the Wallabies and the Boks will do this more often. Woops…
11 Mar 2010, 07:28 am
@DonutDunning: # 7
Not so sure that the Tahs will be as bad as last weekend. Lions will have to play for 80 “out of their skin” and even then it will only be close… imo…
Naw… Tahs will walk this one i’m afraid.
11 Mar 2010, 08:45 am
Burgess needs to be hassled by a Ricky or a Kockott in your face type of scrumhalf. Worked well for the Stormers , we smashed the Tahs
11 Mar 2010, 08:52 am
I could not believe what I was reading when Burgess was being hailed as an attacker around the fringes….when?
Yes against the Bulls not against the Sharks…he can but does not snipe often.
If he brings that game this weekend the Lions are in trouble…but will he bring his attacking game…I guess we will wait another 18 months before he tries his snipes again.
11 Mar 2010, 10:27 am
Burgess would be one of the slowest passes in the game. If I was the Lions coach I would be smiling at his inclusion.
11 Mar 2010, 11:46 am
Burgess and the muscle bound ex Rabbitoh (leaguie) Brett Sheehan are the WORST scrum halves not only in Oz, but in professional rugby. Anywhere. Period.
Genia at 22 yrs of age is very much like a George Gregan in his prime. Heaven knows what the Wallabies will do if Genia gets injured …. Ben Lucas the Reds back up is perhaps the No 2 scrum half option in Oz!. But, with little to no S14 game time recently, you would hope that Macqueen’s Rebels would be banging down his door and signing him up pronto.
Speaking of the Rebels, rumour has it that Lealifano of Brumbies fame is a certainty as a Melbourne boy, and Ioane is a possibility (also Melb boy) to put pen to paper come 15 Mar when the ARU / Oz recruitment window opens up.
Rebels certainties are -
Mortlock
Harrison
Vickerman
Latham
Caprini
Probables are -
Rodzilla (Prop)
Dave Fitter (Prop)
Huxley (brain tumour clearance pending)
Gerrard
Lipman (ARU clearance pending)
Manny Edmonds
In reality what is a certainty is that with Macqueen at the helm, and 30,000 screaming Mexicans (Victorians) behind them, the Rebels will be competitive come game 1 of 2011.
11 Mar 2010, 23:53 pm
@VicTahMan: A couple of other possibles:
Gene Fairbanks
Rory Kockett
Adam Freier
Greg Holmes
Dan Palmer
Matt Dunning (think he is only on a 1yr contract with Force)
Beau Robinson
Peter Betham
Alfi Mafi
Flip van de Merwe
Gerhard van der Heever
Gerrard is only a maybe, as he has already stated his first choice on return would be the Brumbies. It depends on whether they think they want him (if they say no I will have to kill someone!)
I was expecting either Barnes or Halangahu to sign, but they have decided to perform professional suicide instead by both re-signing with the Tahs.
Seriously, name one Waratah flyhalf who has played more than 5 tests for the Wallabies in the last 15 years.
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