In the wake of Stuart Lancaster's departure, here's my post-mortem piece into what went wrong for the England head coach and his side at the Rugby World Cup.
And while Sam Burgess certainly gets a mention or two, he was - I argue - just one factor among many.
Xtra Time.
Showing posts with label Sam Burgess. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sam Burgess. Show all posts
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Thursday, 27 August 2015
Stuart Lancaster's bold England Rugby World Cup selections: Sam Burgess, Henry Slade and Ben Morgan
Luther Burrell and Kyle Eastmond must be feeling pretty miffed. Both centres have been passed over for inclusion in England's RWC squad - yet nothing the England coaches have said fully explains their omission in favour of international tyros Sam Burgess and Henry Slade.
Eastmond? He was jettisoned from the England camp at the first cut, despite his play-making abilities offering something different to the big-hitters of Burgess' ilk. When the England coaches talk of Slade offering "balance" to England's centre options, aren't Eastmond's twinkle-toed and fast-handed credentials (and significantly superior experience) being overlooked?
As for Burrell, one would have fought that the medals he's picked up at Northampton Saints in recent times would qualify him as a 'winner'. Yet he's been dropped for Burgess - because of the latter's "winning mentality".
Instead of Burrell and Eastmond, who over the past three years have built up a decent reserve of international experience, England will have two players who only tasted international Union for the first time earlier this month.
Burgess has his advocates, of course, not least this fella, who owns a League team as well as having made a few flicks:
But few would contest that 'Slammin' Sam' remains exceedingly raw in Union, with his positioning highly suspect at times. History suggests that experience wins you World Cups, and Burgess has precious little in the 15-man code.
Ben Morgan's inclusion is also fraught with risk. The Gloucester No. 8 has played just one half of rugby since breaking his leg mid-season. Conclusion? He must have been delivering some absolutely thumping performances in training.
To make your own mind up on the coaches' reasoning, listen to today's Talking Rugby podcast:
Eastmond? He was jettisoned from the England camp at the first cut, despite his play-making abilities offering something different to the big-hitters of Burgess' ilk. When the England coaches talk of Slade offering "balance" to England's centre options, aren't Eastmond's twinkle-toed and fast-handed credentials (and significantly superior experience) being overlooked?
As for Burrell, one would have fought that the medals he's picked up at Northampton Saints in recent times would qualify him as a 'winner'. Yet he's been dropped for Burgess - because of the latter's "winning mentality".
Instead of Burrell and Eastmond, who over the past three years have built up a decent reserve of international experience, England will have two players who only tasted international Union for the first time earlier this month.
Burgess has his advocates, of course, not least this fella, who owns a League team as well as having made a few flicks:
F**k me ... Lancaster you frigging champion . @AllBlacks take note. These boys are intending to win.
@Wallabies it's the Poms ... natural
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 27, 2015
But few would contest that 'Slammin' Sam' remains exceedingly raw in Union, with his positioning highly suspect at times. History suggests that experience wins you World Cups, and Burgess has precious little in the 15-man code.
Ben Morgan's inclusion is also fraught with risk. The Gloucester No. 8 has played just one half of rugby since breaking his leg mid-season. Conclusion? He must have been delivering some absolutely thumping performances in training.
To make your own mind up on the coaches' reasoning, listen to today's Talking Rugby podcast:
Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Stuart Lancaster: Sam Burgess and Henry Slade performances have created World Cup selection headache
England boss Stuart Lancaster reflects on his midfield selection conundrum following England's World Cup warm up win over France.
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Sam Burgess wordcloud - is the League convert referred to excessively in match reports?
Is Rugby League convert Sam Burgess over-hyped in match reports following his switch to Union? Here's a wordcloud I've done following his full Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers on Sunday. It is based on online reports by the Daily Mail, Daily Express, Independent, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Leicester Mercury, Bath Chronicle, BBC. Click on the cloud below, draw your own conclusions and let me know your thoughts.
Seven rugby predictions for 2015
- Sam Burgess makes his debut for England against Italy in the Six Nations – at scrum-half. England boss Stuart Lancaster explains: “Bath and England couldn’t decide whether we wanted to play him at 6 or 12 so we met each other half way.”
- Gloucester win at home.
- After seeing attendances rise three-fold since moving from High Wycombe to Coventry, Wasps decide to relocate again – to Darlington. “As we head further north we seem to be attracting bigger and bigger crowds,” says chief executive Nick Eastwood. “If things go well in Darlington we’re thinking to heading to Reykjavik."
- Leicester boss Richard Cockerill announces he has had enough of rugby and is taking monastic vows; he will head to Italy to join an order of Trappist monks high up in the Appenines. He will brew ale and tend to the bees. He invites former Leicester prop, Toulon potty-mouth and hairstyle icon Martin Castrogiovanni to join him. “Castro and I can have it out over that beer that I mentioned,” he says in a final interview with the Leicester Mercury. “But we won’t be able to say anything to one another because of the vows – which is probably a good job.
- Castrogiovanni is furious. “Cockers cannot leave it alone,” he tells the press in a fruity post-match monologue. “Look at these locks. They are things of beauty. Do you think I’d have them cut off just so I could join him in holy orders? He is what you call in English an **** ******* ***."
- Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett all go down with mysterious stomach gripes on the eve of the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. A call goes out to Stephen Donald, who is out fishing for rare shrimp in the Japanese Sea, nailing a few bevvies. Donald gets on the next flight to Heathrow and slots the decisive drop goal against England – overhead.
- Dylan Hartley announces his conversion to Buddhism and a lifetime’s commitment to passive resistance.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Gavin Henson faces wait over future at Bath Rugby
Bath boss Mike Ford admits he has “contingency plans all over the place” as he weighs up further signings for next season.
Head coach Ford has told a number of out-of-contract players, including Gavin Henson, that they will need to be patient before learning whether they have a deal for the 2014-15 campaign.
Bath have already made two major signings by securing League star Sam Burgess and England tighthead Henry Thomas from Sale, and are understood to be searching for a full-back to replace Clermont Auvergne-bound Nick Abendanon. The club is also mulling over options at scrum-half.
With Ford being in no hurry to pin down his final squad, the futures of utility back Henson and 36-year-old No. 9 Peter Stringer remain undecided.
Henson, who was signed for Bath by Ford’s predecessor Gary Gold, has been linked with a move to Newport Gwent Dragons. But the former Wales international is understood to be happy at the Recreation Ground and could yet remain at Bath if he impresses during the final months of the current campaign.
Referring to his negotiations with out-of-contract players, Ford tells me: “We’re still talking. There’s no rush.
“The players understand that we might take a bit longer on this particular occasion to give them more time and more opportunities.
“It also gives me more thinking time regarding the make-up of the squad.
“The recruitment is pretty fluid. Sometimes someone’s in, then they’re not, so you have to think again.
“We’ve contingency plans all over the place. It’s still ongoing.”
Head coach Ford has told a number of out-of-contract players, including Gavin Henson, that they will need to be patient before learning whether they have a deal for the 2014-15 campaign.
Bath have already made two major signings by securing League star Sam Burgess and England tighthead Henry Thomas from Sale, and are understood to be searching for a full-back to replace Clermont Auvergne-bound Nick Abendanon. The club is also mulling over options at scrum-half.
With Ford being in no hurry to pin down his final squad, the futures of utility back Henson and 36-year-old No. 9 Peter Stringer remain undecided.
Henson, who was signed for Bath by Ford’s predecessor Gary Gold, has been linked with a move to Newport Gwent Dragons. But the former Wales international is understood to be happy at the Recreation Ground and could yet remain at Bath if he impresses during the final months of the current campaign.
Referring to his negotiations with out-of-contract players, Ford tells me: “We’re still talking. There’s no rush.
“The players understand that we might take a bit longer on this particular occasion to give them more time and more opportunities.
“It also gives me more thinking time regarding the make-up of the squad.
“The recruitment is pretty fluid. Sometimes someone’s in, then they’re not, so you have to think again.
“We’ve contingency plans all over the place. It’s still ongoing.”
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