Burgess

gypsy79

With England rugby union signing Sam....why dont we totally abuse the system and sign Tom (to Leinster) and George (to Munster) to sort out Irelands centre problem in 3 years?

On the plus side with Leinster signing Te'o it would destroy South Sydney for a few years

.ak

Because League to Union code swaps have been littered with failures over the years, although some success stories as well.

If Benji Marshall, who IMO is the best league player of all time, can't make the switch then it's really down to the individual players and how they handle it.

With the likes of Teo it will depend on how he turns out. Right now I'd be doubtful of him starting a big game at 13 for Leinster, never mind getting an international call up.

gypsy79

Te'o will take 6 months to ease in. He will play only minor games in Pro 12 this year. Plus he started playing union and converted the other way.

Benji struggled coming back to league too. He s not a good example as a fly half either. Centres are much better at transferring

England are Planning on playing Sam in November ffs. He has never played union. Tom and George look at least as good as Sam and only 22

Connacht can have Luke while we are at it!!

Deano7788

gypsy79 wrote: »

Te'o will take 6 months to ease in. He will play only minor games in Pro 12 this year. Plus he started playing union and converted the other way.

Benji struggled coming back to league too. He s not a good example as a fly half either. Centres are much better at transferring

England are Planning on playing Sam in November ffs. He has never played union. Tom and George look at least as good as Sam and only 22

Connacht can have Luke while we are at it!!

Where are you getting that England are planning on playing him in November? He hasn't even crossed over yet, and it's not even definite he'll play centre (someone from Bath (can't remember who) said last season after signing that he might play back row.

He'll have a hard enough time starting centre for Bath first anyway, with Eastmond playing well.

I also wouldn't say centres are better at transferring. Generally, it's wingers that are the best at transferring (see Jason Robinson etc.) The exception being Brad Thorn. Because he's Brad Thorn.

Neil3030

Why don't Munster, Ulster, Leinster and Connacht just sign Brad Thorn.

English Lurker

Deano7788 wrote: »

Where are you getting that England are planning on playing him in November? He hasn't even crossed over yet, and it's not even definite he'll play centre (someone from Bath (can't remember who) said last season after signing that he might play back row.

He'll have a hard enough time starting centre for Bath first anyway, with Eastmond playing well.

I also wouldn't say centres are better at transferring. Generally, it's wingers that are the best at transferring (see Jason Robinson etc.) The exception being Brad Thorn. Because he's Brad Thorn.

Mike Ford, Bath head coach.

Burgess will arrive 15th October after a full season. He will need time to learn the physically recover and learn the game. He is extremely unlikely to be playing for England in November.

Ford has stated that Burgess will start playing in the centres, as they reckon he'll have less to learn to be adequate for that. The long term plan is fluid but Ford definitely sees him potentially playing in the pack. It might take a while to be international standard in either position, to say the least.

bilston

gypsy79 wrote: »

With England rugby union signing Sam....why dont we totally abuse the system and sign Tom (to Leinster) and George (to Munster) to sort out Irelands centre problem in 3 years?

On the plus side with Leinster signing Te'o it would destroy South Sydney for a few years

What centre problem? We have centres coming out of our ears!

gypsy79

English Lurker wrote: »

Mike Ford, Bath head coach.

Burgess will arrive 15th October after a full season. He will need time to learn the physically recover and learn the game. He is extremely unlikely to be playing for England in November.

Ford has stated that Burgess will start playing in the centres, as they reckon he'll have less to learn to be adequate for that. The long term plan is fluid but Ford definitely sees him potentially playing in the pack. It might take a while to be international standard in either position, to say the least.

Has been mentioned numerous times in other articles that the insistence that Bath want to play him as a forward is to try coax more/some money out of the RFU.

I have read that they see him been involved in the November tests. It never said he would play but that he would be part of the squad. Again more cat and mouse I suggest between Bath and RFU

It will take him a year plus to be international standard imo. I have doubts that he will be good enough for WC but they seem certain he will be

gypsy79

bilston wrote: »

What centre problem? We have centres coming out of our ears!

None of them 6 foot 5 and 120kg that can ove like these two twins....have you watched much NRL??

If they were open it would be a complete no brainer imo

Not at the salary levels Sam is at obviously. I am just surprised none of the French clubs have tried yet

bilston

gypsy79 wrote: »

have you watched much NRL??

Not even a little bit!

Size is useful but the best centres even in recent years haven't been big guys, namely O'Driscoll, Fofana and Smith.

It will be interesting to see the impact Tuilagi and Basteraud have over the next few years, Tuilagi has always impressed me, but I'd take any of the other three over them in a heartbeat.

gypsy79

bilston wrote: »

Not even a little bit!

Size is useful but the best centres even in recent years haven't been big guys, namely O'Driscoll, Fofana and Smith.

It will be interesting to see the impact Tuilagi and Basteraud have over the next few years, Tuilagi has always impressed me, but I'd take any of the other three over them in a heartbeat.

These guys are more Sonny Bill than Basteuraud. Sam and the twins are beasts and their ball handling skills are awesome

pickarooney

gypsy79 wrote: »

None of them 6 foot 5 and 120kg that can ove like these two twins....have you watched much NRL??

Height supremacist.