Burgess may be on the move to Oz?

[Braveheart81]

If he didn't require shoulder surgery last year I'm sure he would've picked up a few...

100% agreed. I doubt anyone would refute that.

Hopefully he comes back stronger this year. The drop off from the first to second choice is probably biggest at halfback out of all the positions in Australian rugby (I haven't thought about this in detail, but it seems to be true at first glance).

We need for White to be an excellent test option. He'll be prime age for the next two World Cups.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

i think you will find he got the shoulder surgery after realising he was 3rd in the pecking order

 

[Slim 293]

i think you will find he got the shoulder surgery after realising he was 3rd in the pecking order

Sorry, but thats rubbish....... because he was selected as Genia's backup when all players were fit for the Welsh series.....

If Deans actually preferred Phipps he should be shot out of a large cannon back to Christchurch........

 

[Slim 293]

Anyways, back to Burgess.....

He was guaranteed that #2 spot when he left but since he's gone another player has stepped up.....

Burgess may have the experience, but White has a better skill set......

Regardless, his return would be welcome as there's daylight between those two (and Genia) and the next best halfback (Phipps).

But yes, White needs to backup his first year form, but I don't see any reason why he can't and go on to be Genia's backup again........

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Sorry, but thats rubbish... because he was selected as Genia's backup when all players were fit for the Welsh series...

If Deans actually preferred Phipps he should be shot out of a large cannon back to Christchurch....

Thats the point i was making deans did prefer phipps for some ludicrous reason hence white said stuff this and got the op

 

[barbarian]

If Burgess comes back and plays as well as he did in 2011 then he will be the 2nd halfback. Unless White absolutely plays the house down, I can't see Deans picking an uncapped player over one with the background that Burgo does.

But it's all hypothetical until he signs on the dotted line.
.

 

[Slim 293]

Thats the point i was making deans did prefer phipps for some ludicrous reason hence white said stuff this and got the op

Well, he actually didn't play White because his shoulder wasn't 100%, yet he still selected him for the squad despite knowing he required the op.

Obviously White was happy to delay it to get capped against the All Blacks, but it was under the impression he was going to get selected.

The whole saga was rather stupid.........

 

[thierry dusautoir]

The drop off from the first to second choice is probably biggest at halfback out of all the positions in Australian rugby (I haven't thought about this in detail, but it seems to be true at first glance).

I was thinking of this the other day and i was wondering is the gap really that big? or is it the fact that our 1st choice is probably the choice halfback for the world XV?

 

[Braveheart81]

I was thinking of this the other day and i was wondering is the gap really that big? or is it the fact that our 1st choice is probably the choice halfback for the world XV?

It's hard to argue that Genia is still the best halfback in the world. He hasn't really exhibited that sort of form since the 2011 Tri Nations. He's now coming back from a serious injury.

It is however absolutely true that Genia is one of the Wallabies' best players and that certainly exacerbates the gap below him.

Previously you would have said that the drop off from Pocock to the next best was Australian rugby's biggest weakness but that has changed since the departure of Burgess and the arrival of Hooper (i.e. widening the gap at 9 and closing the gap at 7).

 

[Ghibli]

I think the main point is that we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.

Agree 100%
Let's see if Burgess returns to Australia.

 

[thierry dusautoir]

It's hard to argue that Genia is still the best halfback in the world. He hasn't really exhibited that sort of form since the 2011 Tri Nations. He's now coming back from a serious injury.

It is however absolutely true that Genia is one of the Wallabies' best players and that certainly exacerbates the gap below him.

Previously you would have said that the drop off from Pocock to the next best was Australian rugby's biggest weakness but that has changed since the departure of Burgess and the arrival of Hooper (i.e. widening the gap at 9 and closing the gap at 7).

Agreed, i would say the two positions with the most biggest skill gaps between 1st and 2nd choice would have to be Lock and halfback

 

[boyo]

If Burgess returned to the Tahs McKibbin would be a little nervous.

 

[scaraby]

If Burgess returned to the Tahs McKibbin would be a little nervous.

"oh flower of scotland............"

 

[daz]

Mark Gerrard has gone full blast on twitter claiming that the Rebels have already picked up Burgess and will "release" Phipps.

Highly unlikely, I would have thought, but why would Gerrard say that? As an ex-Rebel does he have the inside skinny?

 

[fatprop]

If Burgess returned to the Tahs McKibbin would be a little nervous.

That depends if the Tahs this year make him play as Burgess light or to his strengths.

He is actually a pretty good 9

 

[GaffaCHinO]

are we talking for this season or next? Gerrards tweet mean that phipps would be a goner for 2013 at the rebs?

 

[Chronicle]

Agreed, i would say the two positions with the most biggest skill gaps between 1st and 2nd choice would have to be Lock and halfback

When talking about the gap between halfbacks have a look at last years games between Reds and Brumbies
White had very strong games against Genia and in some people's opinion got the better of him maybe the gap is not as great as others think.
Lets see how this year develops but I am not sure experience is the be all and end all when choosing the team to face the LIons I would prefer form

 

[RoffsChoice]

With Locks, you have AWH, Big Kev, Timani, Douglass, Dennis, Fardy, Carter, Neville and Pyle.
Do we agree that Pyle is the best at provincial level?

 

[Ignoto]

opefully, with the return of Burgo, that the Tahs re-assess and make a bid for him to return to the Tahs./quote]


How exactly would the Tahs fit Burgo in the "salary cap"? Is he just going to be playing at a rookie contract with plenty of invoices to various companies/grounds?

 

[Ruggo]

He can come back and earn his spot in the Wallabies. Good player and handy experience given the Lions series.