Luke Burgess to Toulouse

[dobduff11]

Burgess prepares to bid adieu to Waratahs and join Toulouse

A SECOND key member of the Waratahs' back line has defected with halfback Luke Burgess signing a three-year deal with French club Toulouse a week after Kurtley Beale announced he would join Melbourne.

Burgess will move to France after the World Cup - where he is expected to be the Wallabies' back-up to Will Genia - and will form a powerful halves alliance with All Black Luke McAlister, who was also announced as a new signing by Toulouse last night.

Burgess, 26, will play for Toulouse through to the end of the 2013-14 season. Waratahs coach Chris Hickey has already gone on record to say that if Burgess was to leave, he would not be punished with lesser game time in a bid to develop alternatives Brendan McKibbin and Josh Holmes.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...aratahs-and-join-toulouse-20110420-1dozu.html

 

[TOCC]

holy shit what a surprise!

 

[Alex-A]

They wont bench Burgo to experiment with other players while the Tahs are still in the fight for a playoff spot. The Brumbies on the other hand benched AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) because they dont have a hope of making it and are therefor testing some combinations for next year. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) may be off form but its not like there was any alternative, credible(yet) candidate snapping at his heels for a place. Its a shame because wallabies NEED him, so we all need the brumbies to smarten up and give him some game time.

 

[BRIX]

Knew this but wow does it fucking suck. ARU thought it was a bluff (for negotiation leverage) because he's the #2 halfback in Australia and all the rest of it. Once again, caught with their pants down. Clowns! Good luck Luke. Still think you should have stayed mate, your too young to be throwing all your cards on the table like that lad. Geez mate

 

[TOCC]

really a bluff?? I never thought it was a bluff, i thought it was a given that Burgess and Giteau were certain to leave at seasons end..

 

[RugbyReg]

Knew this but wow does it fucking suck. ARU thought it was a bluff (for negotiation leverage) because he's the #2 halfback in Australia and all the rest of it. Once again, caught with their pants down. Clowns! Good luck Luke. Still think you should have stayed mate, your too young to be throwing all your cards on the table like that lad. Geez mate

don't think so. I heard the ARU are giving him an early release straight after the RWC.

 

[Gagger]

Pity to see him go....but good on him.

A good move for the assburgess; top Euro club, silverware, Euros, French living, experience, while still at his prime. Can't knock him for it.

Hasn't done badly for a second XV player who couldn't get on the park for the Brumbies.

 

[fatprop]

Good replacement for porn star for Toulouse, he gives them the same style of competitive running 9.

Good luck to the guy

 

[BRIX]

really a bluff?? I never thought it was a bluff, i thought it was a given that Burgess and Giteau were certain to leave at seasons end..

Knew this but wow does it fucking suck. ARU thought it was a bluff (for negotiation leverage) because he's the #2 halfback in Australia and all the rest of it. Once again, caught with their pants down. Clowns! Good luck Luke. Still think you should have stayed mate, your too young to be throwing all your cards on the table like that lad. Geez mate

; )

Good replacement for porn star for Toulouse, he gives them the same style of competitive running 9.

Good luck to the guy

Hehe, porn star. Enjoy your retirement Dirk

 

[fatprop]

Knew this but wow does it fucking suck. ARU thought it was a bluff (for negotiation leverage) because he's the #2 halfback in Australia and all the rest of it. Once again, caught with their pants down. Clowns! Good luck Luke. Still think you should have stayed mate, your too young to be throwing all your cards on the table like that lad. Geez mate

; )

He was not going to be anything more than No 2 in aus behind Genia, so he either goes the "Whittaker" route and enjoys collecting track suits, or at 26/7 he plays in the RWC and afterwards gets the opportunity to set himself up money wise, play/live in a pretty nice area of France for a top european side that is right up there in the Heineken Cup and Top 14 each year.

No brainer really

As for Aus, Nic Phipps will be a great back up for Genia moving forward

 

[TOCC]

Knew this but wow does it fucking suck. ARU thought it was a bluff (for negotiation leverage) because he's the #2 halfback in Australia and all the rest of it. Once again, caught with their pants down. Clowns! Good luck Luke. Still think you should have stayed mate, your too young to be throwing all your cards on the table like that lad. Geez mate

; )




Hehe, porn star. Enjoy your retirement Dirk

The idea of a bluff is not to let your opponent know what you are doing, it seemed in this case both parties had a understanding of what the other wanted

 

[TheTruth]

Bloody shame to lose him

 

[Gnostic]

The reality is that Burgess has not really developed. He has always been the best defensive half in Oz (since he started getting regular game time), up there with the best sniping/running 9's, and amoungst the worst passing 9's. A decent coaching regime at either the Tahs or the Wallabies would have had him passing the ball out of each hand against a spot on the wall all day everyday until he got it right and then moved him further from the wall.

Yet another player who has failed to reach the pinnacle of his skills development in Oz. The writing was on the wall for Burgess, because of the flaws, at Wallaby level as I would expect Phipps to take his bench spot if his form holds. Its a blow to the Tahs in terms of half depth but I hav high hopes for McKibben.

 

[Gagger]

Every player can become perfect?

 

[vidiot]

I've been throwing a ball at a spot on a wall for 15 minutes now, and while I'm not expecting a call from Deans yet, surely a conference call with the Brumbies coaching team is just around the corner.

Edit: Just a minute.... Nope, it was my mother-in-law.

Re-edit: She says she has applied for Brumbies coach next year. Hope for their sake she doesn't get it. She's a bit scary.

 

[BRIX]

As for Aus, Nic Phipps will be a great back up for Genia moving forward

I was worried about this more to be honest FP but didn't want to get off tangent. I've followed Phipps on the 7's circuit for a few years (granted its not XV a side) but I'm not exactly sold yet. He had a blinder against the Hurricanes but besides that, I don't think he's done much for the Rebels behind a gutsy forward pack. Anyway I certainly look forward to seeing more from him in the next coming months, and seeing him tighten up his defense in particular.

The idea of a bluff is not to let your opponent know what you are doing, it seemed in this case both parties had a understanding of what the other wanted

Yes. You are quite correct in your definition of a bluff, my friend but I fail to see the relevance of the second part of your post in relation to my 1st comment. Well, Its either that or a combination of me needing sleep (and the thought of missing Burgos enthusiastic swagger come next year). Ha ha

 

[Gnostic]

The word DEVELOPE was used gaggs. The aspect I criticise has not improved appreciably.

I always return to the 1984 (yes amateur) example of Andrew Slack practicing his long passing for hours as he was a terrible passer of any length especially to the left. So he practiced and improved the skill prior to the 1984 GS tour so that he was able to pass and hit his mark 15 metres away on the fly.

 

[BRIX]

I'm quite critical of Luke at times for silly little shit but with all due respect, I think there isn't much to dissect in Burgos game. He passes the ball a bit high and too far back here and there but so what. I wouldn't trade him for any other little guinea pig #9 going around today in Australia (besides Sanchez).

People often forget his short ball game, presence in the defensive line (+ in and around the ruck) as well the sheer amount of line breaks he makes.

Put your crystal balls away and deal with the present, I think he's a big loss. Burgess is a stud.

 

[Jets]

I've been throwing a ball at a spot on a wall for 15 minutes now, and while I'm not expecting a call from Deans yet, surely a conference call with the Brumbies coaching team is just around the corner.

Edit: Just a minute.... Nope, it was my mother-in-law.

Re-edit: She says she has applied for Brumbies coach next year. Hope for their sake she doesn't get it. She's a bit scary.

You couldn't do worse that Valentine at the moment. I could make a cup of tea in the time it took him to pick up the ball and pass it on the weekend. The only thing he has going for him is that no one seems to want to tackle him when he does it. Pity considering he had close to the best pass in Australia for a while.

Back on topic I think it is a good move for Luke. Go to France and make a heap of Euro's for 3 years then come home for 1 Super season and be in contention for a World Cup as we all remember players that leave being better than they were when they left. It's the future of Australian Rugby.

 

[Blue]

Toulouse have also announced that hey have signed Gurthrö Steenkamp and Luke McAlister.