The Burgess Debate
One of the highest profile cross code switches in world rugby and now, having been named on the Bench for Bath this weekend, Burgess is on the lips of every rugby fan both union and league.
A powerful runner a ferocious defender, ‘Slammin’ Sam’ is revered both in his native England and Down Under.
At 25 Sam Burgess has done it all in Rugby League. NRL All Star, captain of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, NRL Premiership winners, first English recipient of the Clive Churchill Medal, the list goes on and on.
And, just one month after captaining the Rabbitohs to Premiership glory he moved over to Bath to pursue Rugby Union, many suggesting with the 2015 Rugby World Cup in mind.
The major debate since his move to the South West of England has been where to play him. Some say back row, others say centre, others even suggest wing. When addressing this subject it is important to recognise the simple fact that league and union are completely different games with completely different codes and laws.
Yes, they come under the same umbrella and there are similarities; but so does American Football. Baseball was born from cricket yet you never saw Babe Ruth ditching the Red Sox to run out for Somerset.
In high-pressure games players often rely on instinct, their body knows what to do. In terms of back-row play the break down in Union is an area where his instincts from league may be counter productive.
In Rugby union the tackler is taught to bounce up and compete for the ball immediately. In League you stay down, holding the attacker down to force a breakdown. Safe to say if he tries this he will not only pick up penalties but also the wrath of an angry scrum-half after quick ball.
I feel his position should be in the centres. A crash ball specialist who can off load from the tackle as well as offer some serious muscle in defence.
It appears the powers that be at Bath also see Burgess in the backline. A quick glance at the Bath team sheet for their game this weekend versus Harlequins will show Burgess is named among the replacements. Interestingly his name comes at the bottom half of the replacements list, potentially in the 22 shirt. As the Sherlock Holmes among you will deduce, this suggests his debut will be in the back division. Saying that, in recent interviews Mike Ford admits his "gut feeling" is that Burgess will play in the pack, but surely the intricacies of the rugby union game are amplified in the backrow, especially come break-down time.
Is 2015 too soon for Burgess to make it as an international? Only time will tell. One thing is for certain, of the many cross-code converts from the past, very few succeed. We can’t rush his development into the international set up. If he is good enough, pick him. If not, give him time.
On man who has not got caught up in the Burgess hype is a Mr David Campese. Speaking to QBE Rugby he made his view perfectly clear.
“Firstly, I’ve heard the name, I don’t live in Australia so I’ve got no idea who the guy is,” the ex-Australia international said.
“I don’t know what the big fuss is about a guy whose never played the game, he’s played League but its a different game to Rugby (Union).
“So obviously he’s a hit-up person so obviously England are looking for someone to hit the ball up which you do now, you’ve got them everywhere.
Isn’t that the whole idea about a structure underneath bringing all these young guys through, isn’t that the whole idea about Rugby? Bringing in the young guys, so why do we have to buy players from other codes? It’s bizarre!”
And when you look at it from this point of view it is bizarre, as Burgess is, potentially, taking the place of the youngsters coming through the ranks both at Bath and England.
One thing is for sure, as the debate rages on and whichever side of the fence you are, everyone will be waiting expectantly when Burgess makes his debut for Bath this weekend.
