Deans SOS to Burgess?

[Brumby Jack]

The Australian is reporting that Deans is considering asking Luke Burgess to play for the Wallabies on the Spring tour.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...nothing-toulouse/story-e6frg6n6-1226497313531

WALLABIES coach Robbie Deans is considering asking former Test halfback Luke Burgess to make himself available for the tour of Europe next month.​

An ARU source told The Australian Deans was keen to have Burgess on board for the tour, which involves Tests against France, England, Italy and Wales.​

Burgess, who played 37 Tests between 2008 and 2011, is playing with leading French club Toulouse.​

 

[The Rant]

Is that possible without an aussie contract?

And...why? He hasn't used 3 halfbacks on a tour yet. Why not take Kingi or Lucas?

 

[ChargerWA]

Because Burgess is better and if he had managed Burgess properly, he would still be available now.

 

[qwerty51]

Is that possible without an aussie contract?

Serious? Just about every nation other than NZ and us pick players from outside their domestic competitions.

I hope Burgo obliges, he's really needed.

 

[USARugger]

Burgess has proven before that he's capable of delivering the quick ball that has kept Phipps in the squad, and at the same time I think he's a much better overall player than Phipps. I have to agree he was mismanaged hugely when Genia was at the height of his powers.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

USARugger in what way was he mismanaged?
I liked Burgess as a player and he departed too soon: given the injuries he may regret doing so.
But: its important that the rules are the same for everyone. If he's not strictly eligible for one or all of the reasons mentioned then it is not only morally/ethically wrong to pick him it's wrong for the game.

It's wrong for the game because it sends a message that, sure, all animals are equal but some animals are more equal. it is not a state of affairs you want to flaunt because it is bad for the team in the medium to long term to permit stratification, let alone to allow obvious manifestations of it to emerge.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[TOCC]

Nope....

It sets a dangerous precedent and shouldn't be done...Burgess knew what he was sacrificing when he left Australia, give the next half backs in the pecking order a shot.. Just reward for stayin in Australia..

 

[Slim 293]

Nope..

It sets a dangerous precedent and shouldn't be done.Burgess knew what he was sacrificing when he left Australia, give the next half backs in the pecking order a shot.. Just reward for stayin in Australia..

This.

 

[The Rant]

every nation other than NZ and us pick players from outside their domestic competitions.

hence my question

 

[kronic]

Good luck trying to get him off Toulouse.

He's not the starting option at the moment, but French clubs are pricks when it comes to releasing players.

 

[USARugger]

USARugger in what way was he mismanaged?

Not being given nearly enough playing time when Genia was the #1 halfback in the world and not nearly enough of a fight to keep him in Australia. Albeit Genia at that point in his career was nigh-unstoppable but I think Burgess should have at the least been given more chances to close out matches. It seemed like the better Genia got the more Burgess was relatively ignored by the Deans administration. This lead to a pretty major disenfranchisement and Burgess' eventual move to Toulouse. It was almost as if people forgot how thin we are at 9 when Genia was in his prime. There should have been a bigger fight to keep Burgess in the country and playing S15/Wallabies rugby.

 

[Slim 293]

Burgess should've been utilised more in 2011.

But, he's gone now and he's not eligible to play for Australia.

Yes, we're short on quality halfbacks for the spring tour but that's just bad luck.

We have two exceptional players in Genia and White to take us into the future.

An SOS is not required.

Anyways, it won't happen because:

- He's playing in France

- Toulouse won't release him

- He doesn't have an ARU contract

- It would set a terrible precedence

 

[Bruce Ross]

But: its important that the rules are the same for everyone. If he's not strictly eligible for one or all of the reasons mentioned then it is not only morally/ethically wrong to pick him it's wrong for the game.

Arbitrary rules imposed by the giant intellects who run Australian rugby are hardly appropriate bases for determining issues of morality or ethics.

It's wrong for the game because it sends a message that, sure, all animals are equal but some animals are more equal.

And isn't that precisely the nature of elite sport? It's a lesson I learned very quickly in rugby. Unfortunately and obviously there were many animals who were far more equal than me.

It's also a lesson that helps people prepare for the cruel world outside sport.
.

 

[I like to watch]

Not being given nearly enough playing time when Genia was the #1 halfback in the world and not nearly enough of a fight to keep him in Australia. Albeit Genia at that point in his career was nigh-unstoppable but I think Burgess should have at the least been given more chances to close out matches. It seemed like the better Genia got the more Burgess was relatively ignored by the Deans administration. This lead to a pretty major disenfranchisement and Burgess' eventual move to Toulouse. It was almost as if people forgot how thin we are at 9 when Genia was in his prime. There should have been a bigger fight to keep Burgess in the country and playing S15/Wallabies rugby.

Burgess has been capped, been there done that got the trip shirt,he is four years older than the guy in front of him.He is in the autumn years as a footballer.
Who would not bugger off to Europe for the big bucks in this situation?

 

[Braveheart81]

I don't agree that Burgess was mismanaged by Deans and that is why he left Australian Rugby.

Sure, he should have been given more minutes in 2011, particularly at the RWC when Genia wasn't playing well, however I don't think a few 15 minute runs for the Wallabies was going to change his decision.

Compared to Chris Whittaker, Burgess got plenty of time on the field for the Wallabies. If you want an example, check the 2001 British Lions Tour. Whittaker sat on the bench for three whole tests and didn't get to play a minute. Considering we won one game and lost another one convincingly, Whittaker could have easily been given a run with the result already assured. Instead he was left on the bench for the entire series.

In terms of setting a precedent, I don't really have an issue with it. Our top two halfbacks are out injured and it is a position Australian Rugby is weak in. If you look at the next options that are Lucas and Kingi, both of them have only played a handful of Super Rugby games, particularly at halfback. There is a huge void in terms of experience.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Serious? Just about every nation other than NZ and us pick players from outside their domestic competitions.

.../snip/...

$BW was "borrowed" from outside the NZ domestic competition for recent Bledisloe/TRC games.

The only "virgin" would appear to be the Wobs.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Arbitrary rules imposed by the giant intellects who run Australian rugby are hardly appropriate bases for determining issues of morality or ethics.

And isn't that precisely the nature of elite sport? It's a lesson I learned very quickly in rugby. Unfortunately and obviously there were many animals who were far more equal than me.

It's also a lesson that helps people prepare for the cruel world outside sport.
.

All true Bruce - but inside the tent there needs to be some semblance of equal treatment: we all know people don't in fact get equal treatment but there needs to be the appearance of it.
i also think its not a great "plan" to keep going back to the well just to see if its refilled: the up and comers need to feel that if everyone legitimately between them and a start falls over they will get the next shot, not least because it provides motivation to stick at it when the light at the end of the tunnel may not be obvious.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ Inside Shoulder you have just defined "The Bradbury Effect".

 

[Inside Shoulder]

^^^ Inside Shoulder you have just defined "The Bradbury Effect".

Its worked for this country before!
That effect is, however, confined to the actual competition - not the management of human beings in a supposedly team sport over periods of years.

 

[The Red Baron]

As much as some of us dislike the system the ARU has in place re: foreign based players, it's not like the player is unaware of the impact to aspirations of Gold when he departs our shores.

I also think Burgess left too early. Had he not left, there is every possibility that he would be lining up against the All Blacks on Saturday. Sending an SOS out to him for the EOYT goes against the stance the ARU have taken, and can be perceived as a slap in the face of the fit halfbacks that remain eligible for Wallabies selection.

On the other hand, unfortunately the fit halfbacks that currently reside in Australia are not up to international level. Phipps is improving, however he is a long way behind Genia and Nic van der Whithuizen (thanks Barbs). With our two first choice guys down, there might not be another option other than getting on the phone to Burgess.