.....moving on......... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34665009

.....moving on......... www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34665009

Stephen Jones....in a crowded field stands head and shoulders over all other Union bigots (honourable mentions to Guscott and Inverdale).

You know the whole saga is one big toff finger pointing storm. When Ray French is the only one talking sense. ...

Matt Dawson called Burgess arrogant for even thinking about playing for England union. ... off pal I'm a 48 year old asthmatic with a broken big toe and I wouldn't look out of place on a pro union field.

I actually laugh at some of the they get up to in the odd seconds I give the sport my attention.

Union is a horrible sport run by and commented by bent horrible spiteful condescending toffee nosed lovers.

I'm quite a laid back person but my passion for rugby league is only matched by my hatred for union.

Its a sport ....I'd rather watch the taliban stone kittens to death

Anyway ......Coffee break over ....

Oh Burgess... he'll stay at Bath for another year I guess. Like joey johns says "I don't know why they go. ..they always want to come back".

Can't say I'm surprised that Burges is returning to RL. Before he had even touched the ball on the darkside the knives were out for him. He has played every game in RU under the microscope, every small error, not that there were many, was portrayed as a catastrophe and example of why he shouldn't play for England. Like it or not RU has the old school tie principle operating in the upper echelons and I believe they can't wait to get shut of half the coaching staff and a couple of players because they are perceived to be northern oiks.

Can't say I'm surprised that Burges is returning to RL. Before he had even touched the ball on the darkside the knives were out for him. He has played every game in RU under the microscope, every small error, not that there were many, was portrayed as a catastrophe and example of why he shouldn't play for England. Like it or not RU has the old school tie principle operating in the upper echelons and I believe they can't wait to get shut of half the coaching staff and a couple of players because they are perceived to be northern oiks.

it was a stupid purchase on their behalf, made no sense whatsoever.

I think the home nations would improve their chances if the RFU would actually allow players to shrug off the mantle of having to work within approved set plays. Their guidelines don't seem to cater for individual flair or enterprise & thinking out of the box is a cardinal sin.

Southern hemisphere teams are much more successful because their players are allowed to be individuals to a certain extent, & the emerging nations just seem to play what is in front of them & do produce watchable rugby at times.

Unfortunately though, i think Sam was always a likely scapegoat.

Niners...Your first paragraph could also describe the modern RL game.

Indeed. Been indulging in some of brens fine videos from the 80s/90s lately and so much wonderful off the cuff rugby you rarely see anymore. Plenty of biff, characters and running duels....marvellous. God mark Roberts was class.

Yes Brian, i think maybe spreading the ball from the first tackle could even confuse defences & lead to a more open game. The game does seem a bit predictable at times these days.

Was funny listening to the radio this morning when the Burgess story was raised, the interviewees all falling over themselves to say how he wasn't made a scapegoat for the WC failure. They played the bloke in the wrong position FFS..(and no, I don't know what position would suit him best in RU, that game is still a mystery to me)


Oh and Stephen Jones, the most hated man in NZ after he wrote a piece condemning the Haka!