Sam Burgess is the best English rugby player of either code. The RFU clocked this, and with their home World Cup coming up, clearly saw the opportunity to make him some sort of marquee acquisition for their game. Regardless of what happened at the tournament, and all the subsequent blame game, Burgess took their money and doubtless did his best, but whether or not he was 'ready', he simply HAD to have been guaranteed a place in the squad, his switch from RL just doesn't add up otherwise.
Nobody, Burgess included, comes out of this with much credit - if England had somehow won it, or even made the final, would he have come back to RL so quickly? I'm not sure he would have, despite his recent pronouncements.
A part of the Yawnion problem was to alienate the players plying their trade outside of the English league. I was told by a Yawnion fan that this was a decision that allowed Burgess to get a place (I don't know if true). If that is the case then they are bigger fools than they are making themselves look. The world Cup on home soil and they effectively ban players from the squad giving a place to an untried player who has just switched codes and then they play him at different positions. They got what they deserved
To be fair sam is no innocent party in this, as good a player as he is he was always going to struggle to have a massive impact. With only 12 months to learn he was never going to get into the pack so a centre position waa his only real option. Which he did Ok in.
He went got paid and returned eventho he was going to be given time as a flanker at Bath with that being seen as his best option with plenty of time to master it. He chose to return irrespective of that.
His treatment has been terrible and undoubtedly the main reason for him switching back. Great for us and a loss for union for sure.
The whole situation.is both the rfu and Sam being badly advised to think he would be instant success and win the world cup and neither side come out of it smelling of roses.
Ironic if he leads England rl to win the world cup...
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