SLAMMIN’ SAM’S FORAY into rugby union hasn’t been the steamrolling success of boshes, offloads and all-round ruggedness that some fans and pundits were expecting. While his immense talent has made a few cameo appearances, naturally he is still struggling with some of the more minute details of rugby union.
By his own admission, he ‘doesn’t understand lineouts’.
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With the internationals away, both his club and national coach were no doubt hoping that Burgess could nail down a place in the centre at Bath but the away trip to Saracens last weekend didn’t go exactly as planned.
The visitors were beaten 34-24 and Burgess was dumped on his backside by everyone’s favourites swan-diver, Chris Ashton.
There is no point reading a whole lot into one tackle but when the NRL convert arrived it was with the expectation that he would be the one smashing wing’s like Ashton.
Still, Burgess is only a few months into his union career and he will likely improve considerably as the season goes on. But give that the incumbent centres there are Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph, he will have to if he wants to get regular game time.
Just what Sam Burgess' union career didn't need - getting dumped on his ass by Chris Ashton
SLAMMIN’ SAM’S FORAY into rugby union hasn’t been the steamrolling success of boshes, offloads and all-round ruggedness that some fans and pundits were expecting. While his immense talent has made a few cameo appearances, naturally he is still struggling with some of the more minute details of rugby union.
By his own admission, he ‘doesn’t understand lineouts’.
With the internationals away, both his club and national coach were no doubt hoping that Burgess could nail down a place in the centre at Bath but the away trip to Saracens last weekend didn’t go exactly as planned.
The visitors were beaten 34-24 and Burgess was dumped on his backside by everyone’s favourites swan-diver, Chris Ashton.
There is no point reading a whole lot into one tackle but when the NRL convert arrived it was with the expectation that he would be the one smashing wing’s like Ashton.
Still, Burgess is only a few months into his union career and he will likely improve considerably as the season goes on. But give that the incumbent centres there are Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph, he will have to if he wants to get regular game time.
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Chris Ashton chris smashton All-Ireland Senior HC Aviva Premiership sam burgess Bath Rugby Saracens