By Milton Cockburn
July 20th 2009 @ 8:16am
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Luke Burgess is not a Test halfback
Don’t expect this to be written by our rugby commentators but Luke Burgess is not a Test halfback.
Having spent years bemoaning the fact that George Gregan would not retire, Burgess (on the basis of very little evidence) was hailed by the commentators as the ‘next big thing’.
There is now a ‘conspiracy of silence’ from these commentators about Burgess’s rugby abilities. Expect all the post-match commentary, instead, to concentrate on Al Baxter’s scrummaging.
Someone has to bell the cat; the major weakness in the Test team at the moment is not Al Baxter but Luke Burgess.
The normally perceptive Rod Kafer, recently analysing Burgess’s game on television, said, almost as an after thought: “He needs to work on his passing.”
This suggests that Burgess’s passing is the only weakness in his game and, then, only a slight imperfection. In fact, Burgess’s passing, the most critical aspect of a halfback’s game, is not even club standard, let alone Test quality.
Burgess has the world’s second-best 10 outside him yet Giteau (or Barnes, when he occasionally swaps with Giteau) rarely gets good service from his 9.
The critical charge down in the last 10 minutes on Saturday was the result (as usual) of Giteau having to pluck a Burgess pass from the heavens before being able to think about his clearing kick.
Burgess’s performance on Saturday night was one of the worst from an Australian half and not just because his passing is so disastrous. He gets badly flustered when put under pressure at the ruck and inevitably this leads to wrong options. His kicking (particularly with his right foot; and into the box) is poor.
One of the most puzzling aspects of Saturday’s test is why it took Robbie Deans until the 74th minute before he replaced Burgess. Deans must have a very poor opinion of Will Genia!
Everyone has bad games but Burgess has yet to put in a great performance in a Test. His lacklustre Super 14 season this year casts doubts about whether he should even be in the Test squad, let alone ranked as Australia’s No. 1 half.
Sniping, a positive element in Burgess’s game, is never going to be much of an option against a New Zealand (or South African) team.
In the late 1960s, a friend of mine (a fullback) was selected in a Newcastle representative side.
On his first night at rep training, the Newcastle halfback, one John Hipwell, interrogated him at length on where he wanted the ball when passed to him for a clearing kick: what side of his body? what height? how hard? etc. It’s hard to imagine such a conversation taking place between Burgess and Adam Ashley-Cooper at training!
Being dropped from the squad last year did wonders for Nathan Sharpe’s test career when he was eventually restored.
It’s time for Deans to administer the same ‘tough love’ to Luke Burgess.
He could usefully spend some time with a John Hipwell, Ken Catchpole or Chris Whitaker learning how to pass. And, if he hasn’t gone back to Japan, he could do well to ask Nick Farr-Jones or George Gregan for some advice about his kicking game and composure behind the ruck.
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(39)
LeftArmSpinner said | July 20th 2009 @ 8:35am | Report comment
milton, wrong. Burgess is very much a test half. He is very quick in attack with ball in hand, and adds an almost unique addition to the attacking options for every team he plays for. He is both very brave and effective in the tackle. Just ask SBW. He is made of stern stuff and finally he is an excellent team man. Yes, his bread and butter is his pass and it needs to improve. No doubt. I dont understand, given all the above, why it hasn’t.
Something was different about him on satruday evening. From the first play, he was off his game. his face told a story. was it illness, I dont know but something was wrong. Its not like he hasnt been there before. I pretty sure that he played the equivalent game last year. (‘tho he did get injured at training during last season and missed a few games.)
He has been very good in the games of the 2009 season. Dont underestimate him. Every player has a bad game. every player has things to work on. Equally, his pass needs to be 100% every time. it is a core skill. Genia looked to have avery good pass in the brief time he was on the field. All good. depth, depth depth.
DT said | July 20th 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
I’ve been waiting hopefully for Burgess to mature into a top-class halfback, but the more I see, the more I tend to think that it’s not going to happen, at least for the time being. He’s clearly a talented player, but his pass is a weak link. This became obvious on Saturday night when Will Genia came on and started throwing bullets.
Virgil said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:00am | Report comment
Totally agree Milton. Great article. Burgess is clearly not up to standard and we in Australia are settling for second best by having him in the team. It has been over 5 years since the Wallabies had a test standard halfback (when Gregan was playing well).
reds fan said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Left arm. He looked good in previous tests because there was no pressure. His “bread and butter” fails under pressure…. under the pressure of real Test rugby. Ergo, he is not Test class. All the snipes in the world dont make up for slowing down the backline all night with head high looping passes.
Genia showed in his last couple of games for the Reds that he has the pass and the running, and has the courage and defence. If he is given a go it will be on the same limited evidence Burgess was selected.
We need a better option.
Justin said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:15am | Report comment
I recall the commentators saying that Genia was warming up at the 48th minute mark. There must have been another break in play for 25 plus minutes
Burgess fails, and quite badly, in the most important skill of a 9 therefore should not be in the side at all until his passing is swift and accurate 95% of the time.
Genia looked all class with his passing and it was his first Test, a Bledisloe on foreign soil no less. I thought he could challenge for the starting spot having watched him play for QLD this year and after Saturday he most certainly can.
Justin said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:16am | Report comment
Must “not” have been another break for 25mins
JamesB said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Bring back Gregan!
ohtani's jacket, said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Was Genia really that good? As soon as he came on, the Wallabies started moving laterally and were easier to pick off in defence.
Mushi said | July 20th 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment
Left Arm. How can some be a test class scrum half if he can’t pass? What’s next goal kickers who can’t kick, number 7s that can’t tackle, front rowers that can’t scrummage (whoops we’ve already got that).
The primary function of the position is to pass the ball and this is definitely not the first match I’ve seen where he’s failed to perform that function.
Farmer said | July 20th 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
I agree Burgess has failed to deliver. He has now had 18 mths and about 15 Tests. His passing is sub standard for Test rugby. They are rarely at chest height and in front of the player. They are all over the shop. Long loopy ( ie slow) passes, over their heads, on the ground, over the side line.
It is not good enough. His kicking is not up to scratch. Out on the full, charged down, too long, too short…. At this level players should be aiming to make errors / mistakes rarely. Burgess racks several up every match and they usually end up costing his side dearly eg kicking it out on the full on Saturday eventually leading to AB try.
Sure he runs well with the ball but the fundamental, No 1 priority for a 9 is that he can pass. Burgess cannot pass well.
Holmes has not progressed since he left NSW and he is not the answer.
Genia looks the goods, he has a very good pass and is non stop.
We have a good backline, it needs to be able to get the ball early and going forward. Not waiting for the movement to start after Giteau catcheds the ball.
I look forward to the day when we see the Wallaby backline getting fast ball, going forward. Think how much better Giteau / Barnes could be if they receive d the ball in front of them and quickly.
Hammer said | July 20th 2009 @ 10:35am | Report comment
I call for the head of Burgess on a pike at the next training. He almost singlehandedly lost Australia the game by his sub standard performance in the test.
The squad can look up at the head and realise we are NOT heading in the right direction, improving or better that last year….WE LOST and Burgess unfortunately was a major factor in that.
LeftArmSpinner said | July 20th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
what I dont get is that we all agree that Burgess’s pass is his bread and butter yet not up to spec. He has worked tirelessly to make the grade, so surely he can bring his pass up to spec. I hope he can, for all sorts of reasons.
Maybe, Genia’s arrival will be the catalyst. the Wallabies are the winner. depth.
Nick P-G said | July 20th 2009 @ 11:46am | Report comment
If only we did what NZ did last tri-nations this year and scheduled a match against a Pacific Island team on a Wednesday in our two week break. We could set up a trail to see which one of these blokes should have the next bite at the cherry.
Will Genia and Richard Kingi are new products with much potential in my eyes and should both be looked at but I still see Josh Valentine as more reliable than any of these options. Valentine and Genia should be the half-backs in coming tests.
Yes Valentine lacks as much size and flair but he gets the basic business done. Kudos to him.
Who Needs Melon said | July 20th 2009 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
OJ,
Genia looked ok… but looked GREAT in comparison to Burgess.
All,
Even the most ardent Burgess supporters (and I’ve been one of them) must now admit he had a shocker and it’s worth giving Genia a longer run next test. But lets not swing the pendulum too far – let’s not call for Burgess throat nor expect Genia to be our instant saviour.
Dexter William said | July 20th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
LAS
You are generally pretty spot on about the game of Rugby, but your defence of Burgess sounds like a doting father defending his son’s failing.
First big error came right after we scored our try. The ABs were rev-up to equalize. Punt the ball up field and a ruck formed. Ball came out to Burgess and what did he do. He could have pass it to any kicker to punt it down, but instead did a silly boix kick that went out on the full. From the ensuing turn-over, McCaw scored.
Burgess dumb kick cost us 7 points.
At some stage of the play, he lost composure and ran behind Behn Robinson. Child’s play causing obstruction.
Dumb give away of 3 points.
Instead of doing a box kick this time behind the ruck when the ABs are on the front foot, he chooses to pass his famour harbour bridge pass to Giteau.
Lucky that a try was not scored from that, or smith being sin bin. Another 3 points.
Despite what I have been reading about the bad refereeing and Baxter’s weakness, they weren’t the ball breaker. The 13 points that Burgess contributed against us lost us the game.
Burgess (I am sure) is a nice young fellow and probably a great team man, but his lack of composure, the speed between his ears and his passing skills are sadly club rugby standard at best.
I do like his sniping and was his supporter for a while and had often wondered why he has not been picked earlier. He is 26 and had been out-picked at the Brumbies and Waratahs for a few years. Now it makes more sense.
LAS, passing ability (long and sharp) is natural. The first thing a coach does in trialling young aspirants is to get them to pass the ball long. If it does not go far and sharp, there is very little the coach can do about it.
Bring on Will Genia – I like the way he just picks and throws rather than doing the Gregan, which Burgess tends to do.
Where is Steve Merrick said | July 20th 2009 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
Gordon Bray waited an enternity until Burgess did somethign good and than preceeded to talk him up for teh next 5 – 10 mins – I agree there seems to be pact of sorts with teh press in their unrestrained praise for this guy – perhaps they are all embarrassed that after bagging Gregan for 5 years that the replacement is worse… Valentine has a much sharper pass and Genia looked good considering it was his first outing in some time.. Burgess is a myth and represents an obessive desire for Australian rugby to find another Nick Farr-Jones – Luke Burgess will never be one-tenth of NFJ and is a poor mans Peter Slattery – a half backs primary job is to pass the ball – burgess doesn’t pass muster!
Deans shoudl cut him from the match 22 for the Springboks and send him back to Club rugby where he needs to do nothing but pass quikcly and under pressure.
reds fan said | July 20th 2009 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
It is no surprise that the Reds with Genia and Lucas at halfback were near the top for line breaks. They both pass from the ruck without having to rise first, and pass flat and fast. This ensured barnes, cooper and digby got the ball on the front foot. (The Reds could do absolutely nothing with all these linebreaks, nor could they tackle… but lets not get distracted from the issue were are discussing here!)
Virgil said | July 20th 2009 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
Passing is not a ‘natural’ talent. I’ve been a halfback for about 10 years now and my pass has improved every year…. through repetitive muscle memory type training and technique modification.
Hence, I believe that there is hope for burgess. However, it will definitely not happen overnight and he needs time at club level to practise, practise, practise. We can’t have him trying to improve basic skills at test level.
Boomer said | July 20th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Chaps,
I don’t think it matters which way you cut it – Genia gave his backs flatter, faster ball than Burgo did.
Hospital passes do not make it easy for your backline to work and give the opposition too much time. Burgo fails to deliver on this critical benchmark, despite the fact he is a team player and a decent ball runner etc etc.
Back to club rugby with him, let him mature on his own schedule and not during a Bledisloe series.
We need another option immediately. Valentine had a great season with the Force, pitching the ball to… guess who… Gits. Likewise, Holmes and Genia have better passing games and the ball in hand will always win you a game.
Benny said | July 20th 2009 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
The charge down could easily have been avoided:
A) giteau the vastly overrated (and untouchable re: criticism it would seem following his equally bad game) not standing 15m back when he couldn’t kick the ball out on the full anyway
B) giteau not having the world’s slowest kicking motion (he regularly gets charged down when passes hit him on the chest)
C) giteau stepping or checking his kick, not continuing on regardless
Burgess has been our form player so far this test season…one bad game shouldn’t mean he gets dropped
Ben J said | July 20th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
I can’t see how any of this coud be good news to the Boks. The Wallabies are a premier rebound team, I think it was last year when Palu went to town against the Boks and smashed his way to a try or two. The Boks just had no answer to him and he had a massive hand in their defeat. I would be worried about Burgess, too much sideways running, Juan Smith will line him up for a bruiser if he continues that nasty habit.I could be wrong but he seems to be playing like Gregan did in his last few matches, maybe Gregan is the last person on earth you want him to emulate. The question could be: Could Genia be any worse as a starter?
Chuck said | July 20th 2009 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
WISM,
If Bray is a burgess supporter then greg martin is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum, jumps on any opportunity to crucify him – on saturday he blamed a wasted attacking opportunity from an O’connor knockon on burgess – he also blamed burgess for a pass over the touch line when the referee stopped the wallaby running onto it
Criticism must be shared by a whole host of underperformers on Saturday – Mortlock plays like a prop (zero speed), Barnes cost us an early try, Giteau’s goalkicking was substandard and he went missing for most of the match, George Smith gives away way too many penalties, Baxter is hated by the refs, Turner and Mitchell make bad decisions, Brown was average at best…
The Gaz said | July 20th 2009 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
I would just like to see Burgo give up on the box kicking…it is a nothing, ugly part of the game and NZ overuse it terribly (is all cowan does)…pass the ball to Gits and the lazy forwards hanging out wide
AndyS said | July 20th 2009 @ 5:33pm | Report comment
I thought Burgess was horrible on the weekend. If no other blame were to be attached to Deans for that performance, he should have brought on Genia far earlier. Perhaps he was worried about it being a debut, but he just couldn’t have been any worse.
Spencer said | July 20th 2009 @ 7:15pm | Report comment
Genia is a genius in waiting. I am no Robbie Deans, however I predicted 2 months ago that Gena would be Australia’s starting scrumhalf before the end of the year. Let’s hope I gave too much time in the estimate.
Dexter William said | July 20th 2009 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
Virgil
“Passing is not a ‘natural’ talent. I’ve been a halfback for about 10 years now and my pass has improved every year…”
So if you started from a harbour bridge style of pass to a Nick Far Jones style of pass, and it takes 10 years, what hope are we talking about.
To make a good steak, you must first find a good piece of meat.
Let’s just admit it. Burgess need to go back to club games or whatever until he improves on his passing (first thing). The other more difficult thing for him to improve on is his composure. He makes silly errors under pressure – maybe not choke, but overawed. He has not shown much grey matter in the way he plays the last 15 tests.
sheek said | July 20th 2009 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
It’s all very well to say Burgess (or Baxter) aren’t up to international standard.
The problem Deans faces is that they’re still the best we have in their positions. At the moment anyway. Australian rugby isn’t blessed with the great depth of NZ or SA rugby unfortunately. Not to the same extent anyway.
Worlds Biggest said | July 21st 2009 @ 12:20am | Report comment
Dexter Williams – you couldn’t have put it any better at all and Hammer I agree with you too. I mentioned on Saturday night that Burgess cost us 13 points, 13 points in a Bledisloe Test match, simply unacceptable. I still haven’t forgotton his howler in Paris which nearly cost us that game. Halfback is such a pivotal position and no room for headless chooks which is what Burgess is. I am sure he is a lovely guy from the Country who has worked hard to get where he has but he is not cutting the mustard in the key area’s of a halfbacks game most importantly his pass. I mentioned on the roar earlier this year that he needs a mentor like NFJ to work on his game. He desperately needs some coaching. He has plenty of ticker and I hope he can become a good halfback but at the moment he is not up to International standard. Just too many errors in his game. He needs to go back to Club Rugby, hire a specialist coach to help him and work 6 hours a day on his game. Will Genia and Josh Valentine should be the halfbacks for the Tri Nations. I rate Valentine as a player.His combination with Giteau at the Force was very good and they will be teaming up again at the Brumbies.
Benny said | July 21st 2009 @ 7:49am | Report comment
Still no mention of Giteau losing us 6 points with his terrible duck-hook goalkicking
John of Cloverdale West Australia said | July 21st 2009 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
An abysmal performance from Burgess. He has had too many chances now. And from a spectator point of view, ban the box kick and please do something about the scrums (stoppages and penalties galore)- boring!
Justin said | July 21st 2009 @ 4:03pm | Report comment
Benny have you ever kicked in a gale? You dont have to be off by much for the ball to really move from its intended target. He kicked the ones he should have and missed the tough ones from memory, no shame in that.
Sheek – the point is there are much better passes of the ball than Burgess and that is criteria one for a 9. Valentine kills him from the deck but he doesnt make the breaks Burgess does.
Spencer said | July 21st 2009 @ 4:12pm | Report comment
Sheek – if you can watch a replay of the Reds V Brumbies this year you will see why Genia is the best scrumhalf in Australia. Pass, Run, Kick, Tackle, Ticker – he is the real deal.
sheek said | July 21st 2009 @ 4:58pm | Report comment
Spencer,
I’m always willing to support a fellow Aussie born in PNG! BTW, what about Nic Berry by comparison?
Justin,
I understand, but Deans has selected Burgess to date for his other skills, hoping his passing will improve along the way. At present, that hasn’t happened. I must confess Valentine is my favourite for the #9 position.
It’s a horses for courses, isn’t it? Gregan couldn’t pass particularly well or fast, but he was chosen for other attributes he brought to the team. It’s a tough gig, being a selector…..
Justin said | July 21st 2009 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
Sheek – re selectors. I went to a dinner where our old mate E. McKenzie was the guest speaker and he said that coaching was 80% selecting the right players. I would say its about right. I am beginning to wonder though whether Deans is that good at selecting and I am not just referring to Burgess…
retired rucker said | July 21st 2009 @ 6:37pm | Report comment
Based on Genias 7 minutes of game time I would be starting him against the springboks. He has awsome potential lets hope he stays grounded!
mother teresa said | July 21st 2009 @ 9:59pm | Report comment
probably help burgess intermittent performances if he was consistent on the tradesman basics and his star outsides were themselves confidently primed to play;they were not
OldManEmu said | July 21st 2009 @ 10:15pm | Report comment
Is Burgess set to usurp the role of Sharpey as Australian Rugby Public Enemy number one?
He’s such a good looking young man. Surely that counts for something?
bennalong said | July 23rd 2009 @ 2:04am | Report comment
Sheek,
Gregans pass was fine. Larkham said it hit him on the chest every time. Regardless………………….you incessant knockers….
Give Burgess a go . He’s been great this season and if you put Genia up you blokes will be crucifying him within three games
Bonza said | July 23rd 2009 @ 4:29am | Report comment
I dont think we can concude too much from 6 mins by Genia at the end of the other than he deserves more time. I think he need to earn a start and given he is coming of an injury period there is no need to throw him to the wolves.
Burgess is a leftie so the right foot box kicks are tougher for him – not an excuse but you cannot compare him to Gregan as they were asked to play and did play very different games. gregan was a faiclitator of an extensive playbook who coupled with the intelligent larkham spent 99% of the time passing the ball to someone. He only kicked in the last season when Connelly arrived on the scene and brought some NH tactics. It was not great either. Burgess is being asked to play a tempo game that has significant volumes of kicking and field position tactics; he also has to pass to players who are playing what is in front of them so this is very unpredictable and I think this is acknowledged by Giteau. Gregan had a massive play book and people were coached to be in certain places – this is surely an easier environment to deliver better passes. yes Burgess can improve things technically but he tackles and provides enthusiasm. There was a test a few years back in Cape Town where the Boks won win a pick and drive game – hard to believe with their attack only about 20m wide gregan never made a tackle in the entire test – I saw the stats on a sa website and funnily enough was not surprised
You are trying to compare apples with oranges