By Samantha Broun
October 14th 2008 @ 1:06am
Burgess takes next step towards Spring Tour
Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess rates himself as the third choice No.9 in the current Australian squad as he prepares to take the next step in his return from injury.
The scrumhalf, who missed the bulk of the Tri-Nations series with a knee injury, will resume full contact training this week after today rating his knee at “almost 100 per cent”.
Even once he regains full fitness, Burgess believes there’s no guarantee of his selection in the starting XV for the Spring Tour, and admits he has a lot of hard work in front of him if he’s to wrest back the No.9 jersey from incumbent half Sam Cordingley.
“I think assumption is the mother of all stuff ups, so I’m certainly not assuming anything,” the six-Test rookie told AAP.
“I’m coming in as probably number three at the moment, behind Sam (Cordingley) and Brett (Sheehan) so it’s important that I work as hard as I can and just contribute.
“I think he (Sam) played brilliantly (in my absence), his passing is superb, it’s so much technically better than mine, and his game management, his experience, his kicking and his overall talk and knowledge is fantastic, he’s performed amazingly well.”
Burgess has used his time on the sidelines to take a harsh look at his own game and is keen to tweak areas he’s identified as “weak”.
“I need to improve my kicking and my overall game management as a halfback,” he said.
“I’ve possibly let myself down with some skill areas in my passing here and there but that’s par for the course.
“Being able to continue to challenge myself is what I’m aiming for. I certainly feel more confident with every Test.”
Cordingley, meanwhile, is preparing for his final tour with the Wallabies, starting with the fourth and final Bledisloe Test in Hong Kong on November 1 followed by Tests against Italy, England, France and Wales.
And the 32-year-old veteran isn’t going to relinquish the halfback jersey without a fight, especially after experiencing his run-on debut against the All Blacks in Brisbane in what was his last Test on Australian soil.
“It’s obviously going to come down to what the selectors want,” said Cordingley, who has 19 caps, 13 of which have come from the bench.
“I’d imagine there’s a distinct possibility that he’ll (Burgess) be getting a fair bit of game time given the fact that I’ll be heading overseas (to France) after this trip.
“That’s the reality of it. He’s the young guy, I’m the old guy and if there’s an opportunity for me to start another Test that would be great and hopefully there is.
“I’m doing as much work as I can here to hold that Test No.9 and we’ll see what (coach Robbie Deans) and the selectors think.”
Despite the fierce rivalry for the starting guernsey, Cordingley said he has a good relationship with Burgess.
“At the end of the day, the best way I can be of assistance to him (Burgess) is to be as competitive as I can,” he said.
” … If I’m doing that and pushing him at training and he’s doing the same to me, then hopefully he’s going to become a better halfback.
“We’ve got a pretty good relationship … I’m there for him if he wants to ask any questions and I point him in the right direction when I see the opportunity.
” … But I want to start as many Tests as he does.”
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stillmissit said | October 14th 2008 @ 10:42am | Report comment
What an amazng difference in attitude compared to George Gregan’s too long a time. This questioning, competition and frankness is what we should have had in the Wallabies prior to the 2003 World Cup would have made a world of difference.
mudskipper said | October 14th 2008 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
Stillmissit…more Gregan bashing…while it would have been great to have won the 2003 RWC…I would like to point out at the 2003 RWC the Wallabies lost the final in extra time which is a very good overall tournament result I would think. So the past is not as dark as you make out with Gregan. Additionally for all the dark doomsday-ers the new Wallabies only lost the Bledisloe cup by 4 points.
Luke Burgess has a no more experience than a S14 rookie…and needs to improve to stay in the Wallabies long term…which he clearly knows. Nice to see him back let see what he can do on the spring tour.
Next S14 year he will compete with Luca at the Reds, Holmes at the Brumbies and Valentine now at the force for the Wallabies 9 jersey. And compete for a starting spot with Sheehan at the Waratahs. Valentine will have the advantage of playing along side Giteau for the S14 season. Lucas and Josh Holmes are both great young players and will only get better and more confident…Burgess has got a little luck on timing a few good games with the Tahs…
bigmick said | October 14th 2008 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
muskipper you are kidding yourself, you do say some reasonable things but, valentine, are you kidding me and if you can’t see the grass is greener on the other side of gregan you’d have to be the only person in Australia not to. Luck on timing is very spurious, true holmes and lucas are quality, note valentine not mentioned, burgess played consistently well in S14 and deserved his spot. He will improve at test level.
LeftArmSpinner said | October 15th 2008 @ 5:10am | Report comment
chicken or egg?? Was Burgess lucky to be around for the Tahs resurgence or was he the catalyst for that resurgence?
I believe that the latter. yes, he will compete with those other halves but he is faster than any of them with Lucas second, he has a better pass than the others, and takes the line on brilliantly and better than the others. Burgess first, Sheehan second. Both have the competitiveness that is required to play and succeed at international level. Sheehan gives a different and valuable option at half back, an another forward.
stillmissit said | October 15th 2008 @ 5:53am | Report comment
The other thing I like about Burgess is his linking game. Good half backs are quick to the break down and, if it is available, they grab it and play on creating all sorts of unplanned issues for the opposition. It is also his attitude to the game, he seems to respect it and is modest about his ability. He plays as if he is lucky to be there which they all are if they knew it.
I think he will be a great role model for a half back as Farr-Jones was.
Wonder what Cordingly could have been had he got a decent run 6-7 years ago?
LAS agree that with the quick service the Waratahs were a better side. Holmes is the guy I want to see stand up this coming season.
mudskipper said | October 15th 2008 @ 9:27am | Report comment
Burgess made the best of his Tahs opportunities. He just needs to get his pass on target and communication right with Giteau and Barnes…I put him in the category of Wallabies rookie, he yet to prove he is a long term international level player…
If he can get his pass right and be wiser when collecting the ball from the ruck he will be around as a real halfback option for the future Wallabies. Cordingley
Sam Cordingley made his debut for Queensland against Auckland in 1999. Cordingley subsequently made his Super 12 debut for the Queensland Reds that season in a match against the Wellington Hurricanes. The following season he was called up to the Wallabies squad and made his debut against Argentina. He went back at the Reds after three seasons in Europe with Welsh side Swansea and Grenoble of France. After playing for the Reds in 2006, he was selected for the Wallabies squad. For the European winter season 2008-2009, he returns to FC Grenoble, in the French Pro D2.
Sam made his choices, he could have stayed in Australia and tired to win the Wallabies 9 Jersey away from Gregan but
he chose take up contracts in Europe and Britain as a professional journey man, which is fine and I bet he had a great time…
stillmissit said | October 15th 2008 @ 9:49am | Report comment
Mudskipper - thanks for the Cordingly info. he sort of slipped beneath the radar after earlier showing promise. I guess he got the message that George would be our only halfback and he didnt want to join Whittaker on the bench.
Wouldn’t you have loved to play rugby in Europe earning a bucket of money and having a good time?
I think the communication problem with Giteau is as much Giteaus fault as Burgess. He didnt have much of a problem in S14.
mudskipper said | October 15th 2008 @ 10:43am | Report comment
bigmick…opportunity is rarer than talent…I wouldn’t be surprised if Valentine has a good S14 2009 and is a contender…personally as a Brumbies fan I want to see Holmes do well…
Valentine may just as Burgess found opportunity late in the Waratahs season when McKenzie lost direction after the undermining of his coaching position and was just prepared to try anything to see out the season, Burgess got a start and it changed his career path.
I have no problem with Gregan having moved on it was time and I’m looking forward to the next generation of player. However I don’t agree with the broad accusations put upon him for the Wallabies results over the past years as there were a number of factors which brought about that problem. Most notably Knuckles 2 years as head Wallabies coach.
Gregan’s career was extended because there weren’t better 9s available out of the 3 Australian S14 teams. While Gregan was fortunate to have a long standing career along side Steve Larkham, Gregan should be given more respect for his professional achievements; he won 2 Super rugby championships, Bledisloe Cup, and the Rugby World Cup. He has played a record 139 internationals which will be 140 after the Wallabies vs. Barbarians match at opening of the new Wembley Stadium, London 3rd December. Gregan is an Australian sporting champion and rugby legend.
Sir Donald Bradman speaking at his induction into The Sport Australia Hall of Fame, 1985 said, “When considering the stature of an athlete or for that matter any person, I set great store in certain qualities which I believe to be essential in addition to skill. They are that the person conducts his of her life with dignity, with integrity, courage, and perhaps most of all, with modesty. These virtues are totally compatible with pride, ambition, and competitiveness.”
That’s describes George Gregan quit well. I happy to defend him even while not fashionable, nevertheless it’s not difficult with track record like his.
mudskipper said | October 15th 2008 @ 10:47am | Report comment
stillmissit…I agree Giteau and barnes have to work with Burgess on the communication. Burgess’s pass has to stand up after the first twenty minutes.