Comments on: Burgess takes next step towards Spring Tour

By: mudskipper

mudskipper — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:47:12 +0000

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.

By: mudskipper

mudskipper — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:43:42 +0000

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.

By: stillmissit

stillmissit — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:49:13 +0000

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.

By: mudskipper

mudskipper — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:27:33 +0000

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…

By: stillmissit

stillmissit — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:53:16 +0000

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.

By: LeftArmSpinner

LeftArmSpinner — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:10:28 +0000

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.

By: bigmick

bigmick — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:10:04 +0000

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.

By: mudskipper

mudskipper — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:40:44 +0000

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…

By: stillmissit

stillmissit — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:42:31 +0000

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.