Sam Burgess is on the move again, but this time he’s not going too far.
The former South Sydney back-rower on Thursday was named in the forwards – at blindside flanker – for his English rugby club Bath, having being used in the centres since his switch from the NRL.
Third-placed Bath face the Newcastle Falcons, second last on the ladder, on Friday in the English Premiership.
Bath and England fans will be hoping the positional shift brings the best out of Burgess, given the general consensus that the 26-year-old hasn’t made a huge impact in the midfield.
He played only 20 minutes off the bench last Saturday when Bath crashed out of the European Champions Cup to Leinster.
Time is running out for Burgess to impress England coach Stuart Lancaster before he announces his squad for the World Cup later this year.
There was much speculation since he announced his code switch last year as to what position the 2014 NRL premiership winner would be best suited to.
It even had a club-versus-country disagreement to it.
Just before Burgess’ arrival at Bath, Lancaster said he believed the damaging ball-runner would be best utilised at inside centre.
Bath coach Mike Ford, however, thought the back-row would be the best fit for Burgess.
“My gut feeling is that Sam is going to play in the back-row,” Ford said in October.
“I can afford to experiment a bit and see what the best position is. But the decision will be Bath rugby’s and Sam’s.”
Burgess will be joined in Bath’s back-row against Newcastle by former Queensland Reds forward Leroy Houston at No.8 and former South African international Francois Louw at openside flanker.
Breeze101
Roar Rookie
All in due time.
Breeze101
Roar Rookie
Sam Burgess in the Forwards will take time Rugby Union in the forwards game is alot more technical hell Rugby union in general is technical so it's a work in progress. Unfortunately for Sam the World Cup is 1 step to far to play in the Pinnacle of Rugby amongst the World's elite on his debut year. Sam definitely isn't World class yet in Rugby but it was foolish of anyone to think he could force his way into the England squad over experience players especially as a Rookie with no Rugby experience!!
Daz
Guest
God give me strength. One of our best eights ever, played league all his life and came from a league family and never played union until he went to Nudgee late in his school days. NB a straight line, left brain thinker like you would probably find it hard to adapt. An intelligent, intuitive footballer on the other hand? No problem.
soapit
Guest
so burgess wont succeed in learning the new game because the games are different and union body types arent suited to league. doesnt seem too solid.
Armchair Sportsfan
Guest
This x 1000 League and Union are Different. End of Story Those who claim that either group of players are tougher, stronger, smarter, fitter, bigger, faster etc etc are kidding themselves, no group is better than the other, they play different games.
Markus
Guest
Francois Louw used to play for the Springboks. He still does, but he used to, too.
Paul
Guest
Flopped in the back, now will flop in the forwards. He'll be back with Souths in 2016. Blindside is far more technical and foreign to a League convert than playing crashball 12
JimmyB
Guest
Does Francois Louw know that he's a FORMER South African international?
Not Bothered
Guest
Burgess wouldnt make a perfect 8 and he wont make a good 6. He makes a very good league forward, one of the best in the game (not the best ever as some say) but union is not his game because he doesnt fit in anywhere. People often say that a good league player will make it in union because the games are essentially the same. Those people are undisputably wrong and here is why Defensive patterns are different. Attack patterns are different. Rugby is less predictable, there are no tackle counts, less consistent patterns of play. In union stripping the ball is a major objective, in league it is mostly outlawed. In union the most complicated area is the tackled player/ruck area, an area completely foreign to league converts like Burgess. Positions are massively different, many body shapes perfectly suited to union are completely unsuited to top level league, B.Tameifuna and the Saders Bird for example. A player in contact in union must try to prevent being held up whereas in league they are often trying to stay up for a quick play-of-the-ball or to gain a few metres more, there is no real objective to make the turf. The games are similar, there is no doubt of that but for some players they may aswell be as different as table tennis is to tennis because they will always struggle to pick up the subtle skills and instincts that top union players have. Not that union players are smarter or the game of union is harder or better. Its just that the games are different and some players need a lot of time to adapt and others just wont ever get it. Its my opinion that Burgess wont ever be an elite level player in union and when I say elite I mean a top level professional, let alone a top English test player. Dont get me wrong, he may be given an undeserved opportunity and show a few glimpses of what he can do but I cant see him suiting any position in union for a long time, time he just wont be willing to give up or anyone will be willing to pay him for. Title reads that Burgess is moving to the blindside, may aswell say Burgess is moving back to Sydney because he will be pretty soon imo. They would have been better off with Sam Tomkins if they wanted an elite league convert from England thats played in Aus/NZ. They picked the wrong player.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Too late now unfortunately to make world cup, they poorly managed sam burgess who should have been a major player for england.
pjm
Roar Rookie
About bloody time. I've been saying it since it was announced he was going to Rugby.
Daz
Guest
Cheika should have grabbed him. He'd make a perfect 8 a position we're thin in. Maybe not for this WC but in time. The poms have stuffed around with him and now switching him have just about finished any chance of him appearing at the WC. He is a forward by nature not a back. He has that "warrior mentality" Wayne Bennett is so enamored with.