Burgess can't pass and shouldn't be in the team

Dear Wally James, did you see Valentine last night. Wake up to yourself.

That was Valentine, and I agree with you, he looked second rate, but he did put a nice grubber through the defence for O'connor's 3rd try

Just watched the Australian barbarians and whoever the half back was (Phibbs?) made Burgess look great in comparison. BBs half back was so slow at getting ball from the back of the ruck/ scrum etc and kept getting caught in possession, which lead to turn overs, which played into England's hands, and seemed to really put the bbs on the back foot..

Greg J, it's amazing how many people I have spoken to that thought Greg Martin's criticism of Burgess was embarrassing to both himself and the whole commentary team. His inability to have any objectivity when it comes to this player reeks of an agenda and unprofessionalism that has been going on for quite awhile. I'm with you, get him off the TV.

Greg very good point. Burgess sometimes gave slow ball because the forwards were seagulling and would not clear the ruck or contest the breakdown.

I'll pay that one

Greg Martin is the most inexpert, unknowledgable commentator on the fox sports rugby team. As a meagre footballer himself at a lucky 9 tests at fullback is it appropriate for him to rant about a halfbacks play? The irrational carry on on saturday night was embarrasing to himself and his fellow commentators, especially will genia who could have handled himself better. On a dewy night, burgess passed in the majority directly, was able to contend wioth forwards who felt it was more important to float in no man's land rather than secure ball for their halfback, and exhibited physicality that had to have been in the top 5 on the field surely deserves a pass and not the scapegoat criticism levelled at him. Admittedly will genia is a far better halfback as a whole and will return to the starting position when fit. The "tottering" that Burgess is accused of is the sign of an experienced half who has learnt from experience that running around like a chook without a head doesn't benefit anyone and his off the ball work is unparralleled. I admire his work rate and robbie's rugby knowledge to ignore all the rubbish out there. As a halfback myself to suggest valentine who at best gives away dumb penalties and other untried halves reaks of a significant lack of knowledge and experience. Please remove Greg Martin from the commentry team, expert opinions are only respected if they are asked for.

Dingo, if he's "failed all season to be consistant [sp]", then isn't that the very definition of consistent?!?!

A halfback who cant pass is like a prop who cant scrum: Australia has been down the latter path and realised that it is an error. Hopefully the current problem will not take as long to resolve.

Not sure about Burgess, but Dean Mum's father is on the board of the ARU. So not surprising that he gets picked continually even if he has been proven to be below test standard. Mum goes MIA in every hard match, and yet he is constantly in the team. Against the Fijian, he hangs around the ruck area like a Seagull and does not want to be involved in the ruck. His tackles lack venom and his work rate is one of the worse in the team.

It would also be very embarrasing for Deans to continually pick someone not worthy, yet to your dismay he does! I'll go with Deans on this one, I trust his judgement over yours.

Well said! I can't believe nobody else can see this pecking order. O'Young has retired so no need to include. Turner isn't a regular starter......yet. It has to be a political decision to start Burgess. The NSW quota must be filled in the wannabes! It would be very embarrassing for NSW if Burgess was left out as well. For Pete's sake, they can't even get their captain a game.....very embarassing all round really. Politic's in sport always has and always will be alive and well. What a shame but that's the way of the world.

I think what we are talking about is consistancy and Burgess has failed all season to be consistant. I am lead to understand that Robbie Deans is a fan of Luke Burgess and worked with him in the week leading up to the test to try and improve his skills. The question is did it work? and i think the answer is yes and no. He did play better than he has for the Waratahs but was he conistant? No. Is the Wallabies the place a player should be to iomprove his skills? I think not. Send him back to club rugby and let him get consistant and improve his skills especially I would say his head skills and then give him a go again.

Well, I watched the scrum get shown up by Fiji, and was not happy about that. Some rubbish selections by Deans in the squad and on the night, and the BaaBaa's team does not look a lot better either.

I think we have greater problems than Burgess at half back (and I am one of his detractors). We are very thin on second rowers and No. 8s and mongrel forwards overall. I think our replacements at those positions have a greater negative impact than Burgess at halfback, but to some extent they can 'hide' amongst their fellow forwards against a team like Fiji. Halfbacks can't hide and are easy to criticize. Next week our weak pack will be highlighted by England and that's what we will all be writing about seven days from now. The problem for Burgess is that a weak forward pack makes his job even harder so he will be in for some more flack, some of it undeserved. Not so long ago we could not understand why Deans was persisting with Cooper.

Its not just his passing though which is average. Its the way he finds a way to fark up the back of the ruck. Whether it be standing over the ball when quicks rucks are required or fumbling simple clearances. He isnt up to it. Deans needs to uncover another 9 to back up Sanchez.

BB CANT pass, why do you think he isnt in the 22? He kicks but he cant pass.

Stu, Nice to get the viewpoint of an actual practitioner. I had noticed that both Du Preez and Genia were often NOT taking a couple of steps during the Super 14 - i.e. the passing motion would be the end of the standing/straightening motion from the back of the ruck. Is that not something that is taught?

Peter K I have deliberately refrained from making a comment on Luke Burgess, until now. I do not wish to add to whatever it is that is troubling him. Indeed, his passing in the Fiji test was better than previously, but as the game rumbled to its end, the harbour bridge passes became higher, it was two steps, then three steps. His sole dive pass landed the ball at Quade’s feet. Yes, I noted what other posters have noted – that the backrowers were playing halfback while he stood back, looking uncomfortable. And yes, his defense was good. He is a big halfback. Which is why Deans has probably persisted with him, bearing in mind that the top dogs are the Springboks, with their tall, barrel-chested players, looking as though they are ready to kick the barn down. Burgess in the first year was impressive.

With respect to taking a couple of steps and then passing, I have been playing half backost of my rugby career and coaches have told me they have no issue with taking a few steps. Saying this you need to be able to identify the situation in the game when it is appropriate ie. If the 5/8 wants quick ball then no steps are taken. Otherwise taking 2 steps holds the defence honest close to the ruck. Saying all of this I am not a fan of burgess anyway, I'd prefer to see sheean given a run (as a bonus he has got long range for goal kicking)