Deans lets Burgess blunder pass
November 25, 2008
An expensive error in Paris won't cost NSW halfback his Wallabies spot, writes Greg Growden in Cardiff.
WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans has stressed his confidence in Test halfback Luke Burgess, believing he has all the makings of a standout international player.
Burgess's own confidence has been hit by some costly mistakes on the northern hemisphere tour - none more so than a wild pass into the in-goal during the Test in Paris on Saturday night, which put the Wallabies under enormous pressure. The French scored through a penalty try just a minute later.
While Burgess's high skill level and willingness to seize the initiative have won him an abundance of supporters, the Waratahs No.9 has sometimes been caught short when making snipes from the breakdown, while his service from the scrumbase has occasionally put five-eighth Matt Giteau under pressure.
The pass to Giteau at the Stade de France looped nearly a metre above the pivot's head, and it was as if Burgess was handing out presents to the crowd. On another day, the mistake might even have cost the Wallabies the Test, since the ensuing penalty try - from a Wallabies scrum collapse - put France back in the match at 10-7. Thankfully for Burgess, he and his teammates rallied in the second half to record their first win on French soil in eight years.
As the Wallabies left Paris amid a snowstorm for Cardiff and Saturday's international against Wales, Deans said he was not concerned by Burgess's blemishes. The coach argued that they were just part of the learning curve for the youngster in his first season of Test football. "We have total confidence and faith in him, and we will continue to have," he said.
The coach said Burgess could have easily been rattled by his error, "but it was important that he wasn't. It wasn't distracting him." When questioned about the number of times Burgess has been caught close to the scrumbase, or been hindered by running into teammates, Deans said: "He needs guidance from outside.
"There's a lot going on. He's got a lot to deal with, and the greatest advantage is to have an idea in mind before you get your hands on the ball, because you don't get a lot of time and space.
"We've done a bit of work on that, and we will continue to. You will see him master that area. And I tell you what, when he does, he is going to pose some serious questions."
Burgess admitted there was no one to blame but himself for the wild pass. "There was a fair bit of pressure on that scrum, and I probably lacked composure," he said. "I dived out and I think [the ball] was too close to my body, and as I extended my arm ? well - no excuses."
Burgess, like his coach, insisted he had not been affected by the lapse. "I let it go straight away, because it is selfish if you worry about your own mistakes. If you make a mistake, you have to move on."
Deans also emphasised that, for the third Test running, the Wallabies had succeeded in rebounding after losing the lead, which showed that the self-belief and self-confidence of the tour squad was improving.
"It's just a reality of international rugby that it never totally goes all your own way," Deans said. "There are things which happen which aren't under your control that you have to deal with, cope with and keep going.
"So we are pretty pleased with their improvement, and I'm seeing a lot more of the elements we are looking for. We have just got to keep adding to them."
Deans is expected to play several fringe players against Wales, with Ryan Cross among those scheduled to return after being a late withdrawal from the French Test as he was suffering from a stomach virus on the day of the game.
