Sam Burgess Twitter Rant

[Adam_P]

I think he's delusional if he thinks he was a top level union international at the time of the 2015 world cup, but would certainly be interested to hear what he has to say about those with 'their own agendas'.

[Tigersman]

Did he say he was a top level international though?

He did add something when he came on I thought.
Let's face it England was winning 25-18 when he came off Wales scored In pretty much the next phase after he came off.
His stats in that game was 8 tackles made 1 missed (More tackles than any other back for England)
And made 24 meters which is 20 more than Barritt next to him.

Didn't pick him for Aus and we where 2013 down by the time he came on v Aus.

Lancaster IMO bottled it by not playing him at 6 where bath wanted to play him and IMO he looked more comfortable playing in made more sense than bloody Wood.

[Scrumhead]

I agree with most of what Tigersman said.

My issue with Burgess was how he left Bath/Rugby rather than his actual England performances.

He was actually showing some signs of developing in to a decent 6 and if he’s stuck at it, he could well have earned a place in the squad rather than being parachuted in as a 12 (where he did OK all things considered).

I’d love to know who the ‘selfish’ players he’s referred to are.

[ckeyn]

Yes - who do we think he is referring to? I'd hazard a guess at Easter, Wood, Haskell and Brown?

[Puja]

I agree with most of what Tigersman said.

My issue with Burgess was how he left Bath/Rugby rather than his actual England performances.

He was actually showing some signs of developing in to a decent 6 and if he’s stuck at it, he could well have earned a place in the squad rather than being parachuted in as a 12 (where he did OK all things considered).

I’d love to know who the ‘selfish’ players he’s referred to are.

Bang on. He's got a nerve talking about individual egos and selfish players costing coaches their jobs. Mike Ford bent over backwards to help him achieve his goals, often to the cost of Bath, with the understanding that he was investing in the future, only to be utterly betrayed with Burgess buggering off midway into the season, after he'd caused Fearns and Devoto to leave for other opportunities and well after there was any chance of replacing him.

He couldn't help England picking him out of position and probably too early, nor could he help the myriad failures of the team around him. He could help being an entitled brat who got what he wanted out of Bath and then swanned off back home to mum without so much as a by-your-leave.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I agree with most of what Tigersman said.

My issue with Burgess was how he left Bath/Rugby rather than his actual England performances.

He was actually showing some signs of developing in to a decent 6 and if he’s stuck at it, he could well have earned a place in the squad rather than being parachuted in as a 12 (where he did OK all things considered).

I’d love to know who the ‘selfish’ players he’s referred to are.

Bang on. He's got a nerve talking about individual egos and selfish players costing coaches their jobs. Mike Ford bent over backwards to help him achieve his goals, often to the cost of Bath, with the understanding that he was investing in the future, only to be utterly betrayed with Burgess buggering off midway into the season, after he'd caused Fearns and Devoto to leave for other opportunities and well after there was any chance of replacing him.

He couldn't help England picking him out of position and probably too early, nor could he help the myriad failures of the team around him. He could help being an entitled brat who got what he wanted out of Bath and then swanned off back home to mum without so much as a by-your-leave.

Puja

I'm sure you'll all be amazed to hear that I agree with this.

[Adam_P]

I think Puja has summed the whole Burgess saga up perfectly. Agree with all that he should have focussed on 6, and at least see out the rest of his contract with Bath. After that, if he feels that Union/England is not for him then fair enough. But we will never know what he could have become at 6 (I think he could have been excellent given a few seasons there), and he royally fucked Bath up in the process.

[Mellsblue]

I agree with most of what Tigersman said.

My issue with Burgess was how he left Bath/Rugby rather than his actual England performances.

He was actually showing some signs of developing in to a decent 6 and if he’s stuck at it, he could well have earned a place in the squad rather than being parachuted in as a 12 (where he did OK all things considered).

I’d love to know who the ‘selfish’ players he’s referred to are.

Bang on. He's got a nerve talking about individual egos and selfish players costing coaches their jobs. Mike Ford bent over backwards to help him achieve his goals, often to the cost of Bath, with the understanding that he was investing in the future, only to be utterly betrayed with Burgess buggering off midway into the season, after he'd caused Fearns and Devoto to leave for other opportunities and well after there was any chance of replacing him.

He couldn't help England picking him out of position and probably too early, nor could he help the myriad failures of the team around him. He could help being an entitled brat who got what he wanted out of Bath and then swanned off back home to mum without so much as a by-your-leave.

Puja

I'm sure you'll all be amazed to hear that I agree with this.

Fourthed.

[Peat]

I'm wondering if Billy Vunipola is one of them given how publicly disenchanted by the regime he was that World Cup.

[fivepointer]

Burgess did Ok as a player. No real gripes there. He was put in a difficult position by a coach desperate to play him irrespective of the evidence of his suitability. He might have developed into a really good player if he could have been bothered.
That he left having done the bare minimum and pretty much straight after the WC showed him in a very poor light.
I understand Hooper declined his request to say goodbye to the Bath players. One sensed that he, along with everyone else at the club, werent sorry to see the back of him.

[WaspInWales]

Can't wait for his book..


Or



I was gutted the whole Sam thing didn't work, but in hindsight, it was always doomed to fail.

So little time since switching codes and he is selected in a world cup squad in a different position than his club wanted him.

Would've loved him to stick at it. His game would no doubt be where it needs to be by now....at 12 or the backrow. In fact, lets get him back for next year!

Can understand how quite a few feel let down by him.

[Mikey Brown]

I prefer the idea of Ford/Devoto/Joseph having been given all the investment it could at Bath and becoming the England midfield by now. Not that you could really rely on Devoto to be fit.