Following an astonishing performance in the NRL grand final, Sam Burgess is crossing the great divide and joining the English rugby union ranks at Bath.
Sam’s motivation in making this move? To play in the Rugby World Cup in England, at the end of the season.
Despite some reports suggesting Bath see him as a flanker, his most likely position will be in the centres, with former England legend Jeremy Guscott and current England backs coach Andy Farrell both backing him there.
Farrell, a dual international, also made the change from rugby league forward to England centre, so has some authority on the issue.
At Bath, he will join up with head coach Mike Ford, another former rugby league international, who is in an excellent position to guide his first steps in union.
Burgees is demonstrably one of the great league players. When it was first announced that he would be code-hopping to union, I was incredibly excited about the impact he could have in the centres for England.
But I don’t think this will happen at the 2015 World Cup.
For a start, he has just come off a frenetic, bruising season playing in the NRL, culminating in him shattering his cheekbone on Sunday night.
In an interview with Channel Nine before the semi-final against the Roosters last week, Sam said he didn’t think he’d be able to last another four years in the NRL, “not the way we play”.
That was a startling admission for a 25-year-old at the peak of his physical ability. It said to me that the collisions he has put his body through this season are taking their toll and, at the very least, he is in need of a good off-season.
But he’s not going to have an off season. He is off to Bath to start all over again.
The collisions in union will not be as frequent as the hit-ups he undertakes in league. But in playing to his strengths, getting over the gain line and making offloads, he will still be putting his body on the line throughout another long season.
The second issue is that he will have to learn all the nuances of a new sport, with all its complicated breakdown rules, while also getting his endurance up. Hauling his 116kg frame around a rugby union field in any position will take some doing.
This ties in with his third problem, getting in the team in the first place.
Centre has been England’s problem position over the last few years, as coaches have tried to find the right mix of power and creativity in the middle.
But in the last year or so, English centres have undergone a bit of a resurgence.
Luther Burrell, Brad Barritt, Manu Tuilagi and Billy Twelvetrees all performed admirably in the Six Nations and on England’s tour to New Zealand, with Owen Farrell or George Ford providing the midfield creativity from fly-half.
Then there are Sam’s future Bath teammates.
Former league player Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph have started the season brilliantly in midfield along with fly-half George Ford, and former Welsh international Gavin Henson is waiting for his opportunity.
Just breaking into the Bath team, who are flying in the English Premiership, quickly enough to put forward a decent case for inclusion in the England side will be a hard enough challenge.
Bath have invested a lot of money in Big Sam, and will be making every effort to accommodate him in the side, but competition for places exisits, and if he doesn’t perform, he won’t play.
Sam will meet the technical challenges head on and, with the help of Ford and Eastmond, will excel in the same role that Sonny Bill Williams plays for the Chiefs and New Zealand. He will be a perfect foil outside Eastmond and be a huge presence in England’s midfield.
The final and biggest issue is time.
Sam’s contract with Bath starts in October. He then has just three months to get himself into contention for a Six Nations start. With his shattered cheekbone requiring surgery, he could be out of action for at least another couple of weeks, further diminishing the time available to him.
Stuart Lancaster will use the Six Nations to test out combinations and fine-tune preparations for the World Cup, so if Sam doesn’t adapt quickly enough, it will be very tough for him to make the squad.
Sam is a phenomenal talent, there is no doubt about that, but playing an entire season with South Sydney, then trying to adapt to a different code, with very different rules, all in the space of a couple of months?
Sam Burgess will be a huge success in rugby union, but 2015 will come too soon for him. Regardless, it’s going to be exciting to see him try.
simmo green
Guest
Impact? Work Rate? So he plays in the backrow? Sure, only his foot speed will need work, since he won't have the luxury of a 10 metre wind up. He'll need to completely revise the way he goes into contact, ensuring he successfully drives over the gain line, before giving his HB a nice 'long place'. At times he'll be required to catch and pass. In support he'll need to work in protecting possession, which involves a not just a variety of techniques, but lateral urgency. In D he'll be obliged to tackle and then try and get over the ball, as well as develop the sort of game sense that dictates when to take opportunities in contesting possession. He'll be running a whole host of different lines and will inevitably have to cover more ground than he did in RL Did I mention set piece? Good luck to the coach/s who have but few months to create a premiership 6 or 8
Rugby Fan
Roar Guru
Te'o has signed to Leinster and England don't select players from overseas leagues. He won't be considered unless he moves to an English club.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Great points Kirko, especially about the difference between him being a success at 6 rather than 7, although 6 does to a lot of the grunt work unseen... Richard Hill for England was a master at this, you only noticed him when he was not in the side... I don't necessarily agree that the only reason he is being touted as a centre is because of England's issues there... That is definitely part of the reason for sure, and having a good centre partnership is so vital in the modern game. I think he is also "suffering" from a comparison with SBW and how he has been an awesome centre. And seeing as how they play similar games in league, the comparisons have been made. Also Andy Farrell made that same transition, albeit not quite as successfully as he could have been had he changed when he was younger. I certainly take your points though, and he could make a big difference in the back row - but time will tell in terms of his pace and reading of the game.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
Ye JB, timing is going to be everything in this case I fear... He will still go well and can be a success, but it will take time. And he doesn't have time if he wants to play in the RWC.
ChanWee
Guest
no way he can be at 8. its very surprising people trying to say he is good to play in certain positions such as center , blindside , 8 etc, which in todays rugger are very skilled positions. just becoz he is big , it does not mean he will be able to play like a REad or Vermulean in one year. people seem to have short memories. Folau is still trying to play rugger fullback and is failing time and over. he runs when a kick is the answer and kicks when a run or pass is required. also SBW too at least 4 seasons to be a good center. he was only playing at an acceptable level in 2012 with chiefs.
ChanWee
Guest
nmpcart : not sure what ur talking about. i have no idea of his league career, hence the question. but my facts are correct . George ford Son of bath coach Mike was IRB junior player of 2011. assuming ur from England , pity u dont know that :P
Johnno
Guest
Some comparisions on who would be a better rugby forward Forwards: -Sam Burgess Vs Schalk Burger/Juan Smith/Pierre Spies- probably the Boks boys, he's as tall as them all , Burgess is 6'5 -Sam Burgess Vs Victor Vito- Sam Burgess -Sam Burgess Vs Adam Thompson- Too close to call -Sam Burgess Vs Ben Mcelman- Sam Burgess -Sam Burgess Vs Sione Lauki - Too close to call -Sam Burgess Vs Jerry Collins - Jerry Collins -Sam Burgess Vs Bakkies Botha- Bakkies too tall, But Sam will take it to him -Sam Burgess Vs Simon Shaw- Simon Shaw -Sam Burgess Vs James Haskell- Sam Burgess -Sam Burgess Vs Rocky Elsom/Radike Samo- The Wobblies boys -Sam Burgess Vs Wycliff Palu- Cliffy Palu wins. Palu though surprisingly is 6'4 Backs: -Sam Burgess Vs Jamie Roberts/Ma Nonu/JDvilliers/SBW- Not Sam Burgess -Sam Burgess Vs Andy Farrell/Matt Banahan- Sam Burgess Some comparisions of where he will end up. Sam Burgess is 6'5, Jamie Roberts is 6'4,SBW is 6'3, Greg Inglis is 6'5. Sam Burgess will make it in rugby but I reckon as a forward. No 6 or 8.
Kirko
Guest
There's no doubt his talent, work ethic or commitment, but as a couple have pointed out, there's subtleties of being a union centre that big slammin Sam simply doesn't have. And you don't train and develop these - the top centres in world rugby have been playing there for years developing those traits. Whilst I think he may start at centre more to let him witness the contest (particularly breakdown) from a bit further out to begin with, (he's been suggested there purely because it is the one area where England are struggling for cohesion & continuity thus a possible gap for him) he will end up in the piggies & for me its at 6. whilst all positions are specialist, there's no doubting some more than others....way too much to learn about the scrum at 8 to make an impact quickly enough & at 7 he needs to learn the art of poaching & again when you look at McCaw, Pocock - these guys have been doing this for years. 6 he could definitely slip into far easier. Forget lock...though I would imagine he will do some training there, but with Lawes & Launchbury you have one of the best 2nd row partnerships going around & with age on their side these 2 will be massive for England for years to come. Launchbury is that massive hard b@stard with skill that Australia so desperately need. With his drive & commitment, his desire to run out at a packed Twickenham, along with his toughness and EXPERIENCE don't be surprised if Sam's in the England squad next September, but it will be as an impact player off the bench at most & will be at 6 unless injuries force him into the centres.
Rod
Guest
I,m not sure how Vito /Burgess comparison came about . But Sam is quicker than you think, maybe not as fast as Vito. But let's be honest Vito is not hard enough to be a great rugby forward, nor good enough to be a back. Burgess on the hand I would back him to succeed.
Mike
Guest
Nah, his real name is Bryce Lawrence.
cowboy shaw
Guest
He has left it too late and im not sure where he would play
nmpcart
Guest
ChanWee, you're getting your George Ford's confused, actualy not sure who you mean/ George Ford is an Englishman, born in Oldham who was part of the Wigan and Bradford RL academies then followed his father in RU as his dad Mike Ford was coaching RU then.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
I did not know Te'o was eligible to play for England... That is an interesting development. Leinster are a great club, he will go well there and get exposed to a brilliant backline in a pretty strong competition.
Simon Smale
Roar Guru
ChanWee, he grew up in a league background and played as a youth, and was involved in the Bradford and Wigan academies... As far as I can tell, that's as far as his league career went. He was born in Oldham which is deep in the northern heart of England's rugby league area, and with his Dad playing, he would have been surrounded by league.
Nzmate
Guest
Cooper vuna was not at the same level as Sam burgess - what about timana tahu - NSW/kangaroos ? I seem to recall him playing 2nd five against South Africa and getting destroyed. It's not the talent that's the question, centres in rugby are just entirely different roles than what u have in league. Like someone above said if Sam burgess plays 12 the rest of the back line better be on his shoulder/back or they won't touch the pill.
Magic Sponge
Guest
he would be first picked in this soft wallaby pack if he was eligible for the wallabies. It is exactly the player we need. Compare him to a slow pedantic and injured Horwill, there is no comparison. We need a big fast good tackling powerhouse, which Skelton could be if given the chance. Instead we go for lineout specialists and still come out 2nd best in the set pieces. Qlders were saying the same when Folau first started it would take years to become a wallaby. It doesn't take long if you can do the basics and surrounded by great coaches.
trev
Guest
I think SBW is going to have to play pretty well to get picked ahead of Nonu and Fekitoa. His best bet is one on the wing if Ben Smith goes to fullback although lack of pace might be an issue.
In Brief
Guest
O'Neil decimated domestic rugby when he canned the ARC. Pulver saved domestic rugby when he launched the NRC, and a number of other age group competitions. Happy days.
In Brief
Guest
Although he doesn't show it much, he's a lot quicker than people think. I saw him chase a ball down in a game and beat a 2 or 3 outside backs over 20 metres.
Daz
Guest
A very astute comment. I especially like the "lack of ego".