Comments on: ‘No special attention for Burgess’

By: DonutDunning

DonutDunning — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:53:46 +0000

@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.

By: VicTahMan

VicTahMan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:46:30 +0000

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.

By: SAussie/QldRed

SAussie/QldRed — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:27:53 +0000

Burgess would be one of the slowest passes in the game. If I was the Lions coach I would be smiling at his inclusion.

By: wallabie.

wallabie. — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:52:06 +0000

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.

By: wp_boytjie

wp_boytjie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:45:34 +0000

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

By: Staal

Staal — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:28:15 +0000

@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.

By: DonutDunning

DonutDunning — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:23:02 +0000

@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…

By: Staal

Staal — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:11:06 +0000

Trying my best to work out how the Lions can win this…..

By: WOLFMAN21

WOLFMAN21 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:29:19 +0000

@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.

By: DonutDunning

DonutDunning — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:15:10 +0000

@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.

By: DonutDunning

DonutDunning — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:11:29 +0000

@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.

By: Olivergm

Olivergm — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:07:10 +0000

@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!

By: VicTahMan

VicTahMan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:26:17 +0000

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.