Australian rugby union player Luke Burgess is tackled by Jimmy Cowan. AAP Image/Paul Miller
For some weeks now, the gossip around rugby circles is that Robbie Deans would not select Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale in the same Wallaby starting XV. I must admit to passing on this nugget of misinformation in one of my recent posts. We were all wrong.
The Wallaby team to play Fiji at Canberra on Saturday night has Kurtley Beale starting at fullback and Quade Cooper at number 10. The rest of the backline is predictable enough (Digby Ioane/Adam Ashley Cooper the wingers, centres Rob Horne and Matt Giteau) except for the halfback, Luke Burgess.
Readers of The Roar will know that I don’t rate Burgess, likeable and enthusiastic chap that he is, as a halfback of any quality.
First and foremost, halfbacks have to be good passers of the ball. Burgess passes poorly, and what is more, his timing of pop-up passers to one off runners is appalling.
The great Des Connor, a Test halfback for Australia and New Zealand, says that Burgess has a technical failing in that he passes with his feet together which means he does not have a steady platform to launch his passing from. He always seems to me to resemble a man falling forward off an unsupported ladder when he makes his passes.
The result of this terrible technique is that number 10s do not flourish – ask Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes – when Burgess is the halfback. Now Cooper has the task of trying to run a backline when he doesn’t know where the ball is going to be delivered to him.
Cooper’s play has been thrilling this year because Will Genia has passed beautiful long, flat and catchable balls to him to run on to. Every now and again, Genia breaks, a tactic that keeps flankers from flying at Cooper.
I’ve thought that aside from Genia, who is in a class of his own with the other Australian halfbacks, that Josh Valentine has been the next best, or next least worse, Australian halfback. Valentine is inclined to be too stroppy and give away penalties by antagonising referees but at his best he is feisty, runs quite well, and with a couple of steps, wind-up passes quite nicely.
Burgess, to his credit, is an excellent defensive halfback.
This may be the reason why he is being played with Cooper and Beale. The two stars, as well, are probably on notice that unless they improve their tackling, they will not be picked for future Tests, especially in the Tri-Nations, where the Springboks particularly will run their big loose forwards right at (and hopefully not through) Cooper’s defensive channel.
The front row is clearly not the starting front row when all the injured props and hookers are back playing. The back five, though, looks to be the best the Wallabies can put out on to the field, while Wycliff Palu and James Horwill remain injured.
Aside from Nathan Sharpe and Rocky Elsom, it is a smallish back five which will have to lift considerably against tougher sides than Fiji. Peter Higginbottom is out injured, but when he comes back, he might be considered a possible number 8 given his size, speed and power.
Deans suggests in classic coach-speak that “the selection template is always a living document.” At least he is not on about ‘the group’ and their ‘journey.’
I think he means that selections change when circumstances change.
I would take from this that Burgess (for his passing) and Beale and Cooper (for the quality and enthusiasm of their defensive work) are on notice this Test to lift their game. The Fijians, if their forwards can give the backs even about 30 per cent of the ball, should provide an interesting challenge for the halfback/number 10 link and the fullback to see if they can translate Super 14 form to the Test level.
For what it is worth, I think Cooper and Beale are up to this task. I don’t think Burgess is.
The problem with this, presuming I’m right, is that if Burgess unravels, then he’ll bring down Cooper with him.
At a loss
Guest
If Burgess has a poor passing game then I wonder what should have been said about George Gregan`s lack of service.It was impossible for him to get the ball away from the scrum base let alone deliver a poor pass. Still everybody is entitled to an opion.
Cattledog
Guest
Seems there's a few of us who have had a run with 'Soaks' over the years...in my case about 30 years ago during a posting to Perth!
Stu from Sydney
Guest
Thought I'd chime in with a couple of points i'd like to make. 1. Pierre Spies: 1.94, 108KG versus Scott Higginbotham: 1.95, 109KG (Possibly heavier). Big, hard and ....FAST !!!! I just watched Scott's try against the Bulls were he out paced both Dippenaar and Olivier over 50 metres to score. Hmmmmmm..... To me, it's a no brainer and as far as I'm concerned, to much oxygen is given to this "fear the Boks" rubbish. Yeah they're good, but I say lets give them something to fear. Pocock, Elsom, Higg's followed by a keyed up Palu off the bench and all of a sudden, the Boks dont seem that scary. 2. That said, no matter the style of rugby played, there are a couple of test rugby truths and when it comes to complete forward play, the Boks have them in spades. My point.....! The Wallabies are not tall enough and to my thinking, if you submerse both Kane Douglas and Adam Byrnes into top flight international rugby, I suspect you will see them both blossom into very different (better) international players. I'll leave the floor open to anyone who's interested...
TembaVJ
Guest
This is what really surprises me of people these day (including myself) If cooper hits his target and keeps form with Burgess inside him he will be hailed the next Larkham or messiah of rugby but if he struggles the headlines will read: “Cooper good but not Test quality” Photon big shame about Du Preeze that takes about 25% off the Boks chances of winning the 3N… At least we now have an excuse like the Tahs and the match fixing saga. PLEASE in the name of all that is holy dont bring Rory Cockhead, I cant stand him!!! :) I think Deans is giving Burgess a last chance to improve with the view of using Ginia at 9 for the 3N. Don’t think he will use the same backline in the 3N, not enough beef.
Mr Saunders
Roar Guru
I did watch the game actually, bennalong, but the games are shown around 08.30 hours in the UK, so I can't recall specifics. I do recall thinking throughout the campaign that Burgess can't pass for pears, and recall writing that on another Spiro piece. In any case, one good game certainly doesn't make redundant what has been a poor S14 tournament for Burgess. He is a poor 9. His passing is poor, his option taking is bad and his kicking is innacurate. You may well think it's idiotic to suggest that Deans is only selecting Burgess out of pride, however his selections to date have been open to heavy criticism. I also think it's idiotic to rule out human nature.
Photon
Guest
Fourie du Preez is out for the season, shoulder op. Francois Hougard favourite to replace him, maybe Rory Kockett to
Gatesy
Guest
It seems to me that you give the marginal guys a go in the early tests (no offence intended to blokes like Huia, who I am thrilled for that he has got a go, and I reckon he will rise to the occasion), so the message is "don't read too much into the team selections this early in the season" - there is no reason to be having this Burgess debate, because when Genia comes back, it;s shut the gate, mate! Whatever happens, Valentine will end up being "splinters" for the term of his natural career, so it's back to the future. On the question of Edmonds, and no disrespect to you, Saia, I think that with Moore and Edmonds you have the best start-bench combo that you can have, and I get excited in every Brumbies game when Huia runs on, because he almost always changes the game in some small way. Saia is young and extremely solid, so you are always going to be spoilt for choice when it comes to hookers, at least for the next five to ten years.
Go_the_Wannabe's
Guest
You get the feeling this is Burger Breezes (He keeps on keeping on) last chance. If he stuffs up he'll be back to the "A's" in a flash......having said that, could be the best thing for him to get the confidence back. He's never going to regain confidence at the Tah's.....they're trying to stamp out all that pesky initiative. Does anyone wonder how Lara Bingle is going in LA? Hope she's alright.....must have been a terrible thing to have to flee your home city after a broken engagement. That's never happened to anyone else now has it? I need a new job.
Justin
Guest
Regardless of Burgess and his passing Cooper needs to be given the majority of Tests this year at 10. Unfortunately I get the feeling while many are hoping he plays well there are many waiting for him to fail and then jump on him. Time will tell...
JK
Guest
"I have to disagree Bennalong. Burgess has not improved. Why was he dropped from the Waratahs for a couple of games late in the S14? To freshen him up? No, out of frustration, the coaching staff went looking for another option. Unfortunately the altenative was not the answer either." You can make tactical changes, and reserves can put pressure on incumbents, it does happen. After the Highlanders game he was recalled and IMO improved.
max power
Guest
Well considering he'd already already been at the Force and the Reds and got cut for being lazy I think Nadolo himself was the main reason he didn't develop into a super level player.
Harve15
Roar Rookie
I saw Burgess in the early days of his career coming out of Sydney Uni Colts with no pressure or expectations playing fantastic exciting and oppurtunistic rugby. He has the ability to be a star and not be panned as he is by many of us armchair critics. I feel if he doesnt perform in this test Deans should drop him. I know Burgo and know this will spur him on to improve on the areas most people beleive he is weak in and he will be without the pressure of trying to maintain his spot in the wallabies. I reckon if he is dropped we will on see a better burgo soon.
Wix
Guest
Spiro and other Roarers are forgetting to ask the question 'can Burgess pass well with crap ball from set pieces and breakdowns ?' Any Roarer who has played the game at half back or five eighth knows very well the difference between good ball and bad ball from theforwards makes or breaks the halves, and the whole back line. Am I right or am I right?
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Spiro, the mistake you made with Scott Higginbothams name is quite understandable for a man of your maturity, you would have got him confused with his father Peter who played on the wing for Wests Bulldogs in the 70s. Peter was about 6' 3" and weighed in at 85kg he was a flyer and a great defender. Scored the winning try when Wests won the grand final in 77 against Brothers with the late and great Roy Prosser coaching them. I do agree that Burgess would not be my pick at half back and I agree with what Cutter has just mentioned re Waugh being the control freak and the ball going to him not as it should be to the half back. Burgess needs to go back to club rugby and get some tuiton from the likes of Catchpole or some one of his ilk and do the work to change. He is still young and could be Australia's second half back for the world cup if he irons out his problems
zoo
Guest
I'm a fan of Spiro's, but he didn't get either name right. Peter = Scott and Higginbottom = Higginbotham.
Coxinator
Guest
He's on a hat-trick!
Farmer
Guest
"My objection to the assertion that Burgess can’t pass is that it’s wrong, and that steps taken to improve his passing have been largely successful." I have to disagree Bennalong. Burgess has not improved. Why was he dropped from the Waratahs for a couple of games late in the S14? To freshen him up? No, out of frustration, the coaching staff went looking for another option. Unfortunately the altenative was not the answer either. Time will tell Bennalong, but I get the feeling Burgess is getting to the last of his 9 lives in the Wallabies. The unfortunate fact is the depth of really good halves is a bit thin. It is fine to be able to defend and make an occasinal snipe but there are 6 other guys in the backline that are relying on good service.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Dave and Rugbywits AAC is pretty good, but he seems to me more of a midfield strike weapon than a back three runner: Ioane is really the only good back three runner. It is important to have talent at 11, 14 and 15 as well as in the midfield.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Ruined because he failed to develop him into a super level player, which a good coach would have done.
bennalong
Guest
My objection to the assertion that Burgess can't pass is that it's wrong, and that steps taken to improve his passing have been largely successful. My objection to the possibility that Deans would select someone that "can't pass" because he selected him before is more simply stated. It's idiotic. I chose one standout game as jusification for Burgos inclusion - the Tahs v Chiefs game. Did you see it Mr Saunders? Did you see the speed of recycling?