Ford: "Gut feeling" is Burgess will play in pack
Ford on Burgess: Warrior
By TCM2007
February 18 2014
Ford told 100 season ticket holders in a meeting at The Rec that his "gut feeling" was that Rugby League signing Sam Burgess will play in the pack.
He explained: "We want to play the game a certain way, with two first receivers. If we play Burgess in place of Kyle or Ollie or Gavin we can't play that way."
"He's a warrior this kid. You want players like that to have an influence in the pack. I'm not too worried where he plays, but you want your best warrior, your talisman in the pack as a leader. And that's what he is. Where does he fit into our gameplan? Maybe the gameplan is moulded around him."
Ford denied that he would be influenced by England wanting Burgess to play at centre: "He's our player, we'll decide where he plays. England have no influence at all, it's our decision not Stuart Lancaster's."
"He'll learn to use his arms" quipped Ford, as part of a training programme which Booth and the other coaches are already puttting together. "We want to keep him as Sam Burgess, we don't want to turn him into a normal rugby union player."
Ford confirmed that Burgess, who joins in October, will be earning less at Bath, but he wants to set himself a new challenge. "He wants to change the game".
Toby Booth, who clearly disagrees with his boss on Burgess's likely best position, added: "Sam Burgess will decide where he plays. Not by his choice but how quickly he progresses. How he does in attacking contact will decide his rate of progression. His defence is perfect!"
The coaches acknowledged that Kyle Eastmond's conversion had been held back by playing too much on the wing, and they would not repeat the error. The coaches intend to use Kyle's experience to guide the plan for Burgess.
Intriguingly Booth talked about using players creatively, citing Matt Banahan possibly moving into the lineout while Burgess moves into the centre for an individual move.
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:02:20:13:11:52 by TCM2007.
Horatio Nelson
I agree that a player like Slamming Sam wants to be played where the action is.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:02:19:02:46:01 by Bri.
Brucie made it clear that the RFU had said they'd help finance the deal and they went back on it. Both Andy Farrell and Stuart Lancaster have purposely avoided questions in the last day or so when asked if they approached Burgess.
Exciting news on him arriving, but I still think he'll play in the backs, 13 probably in my eyes.
Adopted players: 24/25 J Bayliss; [24] O Lawrence; [23] J Cokanasiga; [22] M Green; [21] A Watson; [20] T Faletau; [19] M V Vuuren; [18] T Faletau; [17] D Denton; [16] H. Agulla; [15] L Houston; [14] W Spencer; [13] F. Louw
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Stuart
Former ed.
Quote:Clearly telling porkiesTCM2007
Ford was clear that the RFU made the first approach before Christmas, but as soon as he heard he was on the phone to Burgess telling him not to sign for anyone but Bath!
Without wishing to disrespect England (or Bath)'s current number 8's, I think Ford has it the nail squarely on the head -England's last truly outstanding athlete in that position was (IMHO) Andy Ripley. But if you have players of that calibre you surely have to build your game plan to take advantage of their ability, and it's fantastic to hear that that's what the Bath coaches want to do.
It's been an old chestnut of mine for years now - do you pick a game plan and then ask players to execute it, or do you pick your best players and then create a game plan to make the most of what they can do? We seem to have eventually got a coaching team good enough to do the latter, and that bodes well for us in my book. England have played coach-led rugby for ever now, and it shows.
And while I'm here - another Yorkshireman in the team can only be good for Bath!
