Burns Gamble


Freddie Burns
By HQ
June 5 2014

Freddie Burns is being asked to put a disappointing season behind him and lead an experienced England back line into battle against a mighty looking All Black XV ...

He may not even have Danny Care alongside as the mercurial driving force behind England's Six Nations side has injured a shoulder, and is only 50/50 according to Stuart Lancaster.

The England pack looks solid enough despite the side missing ten regulars. However, there are very few caps among the backs - but we do have Mike Brown and Manu Tuilagi so anyhthing can happen.

England: Mike Brown (Harlequins); Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Manu Tuilagi, (Leicester Tigers), Kyle Eastmond (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester); Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Rob Webber (Bath), David Wilson (Bath), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester)

Replacements: Joe Gray (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (London Wasps), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks), Dave Attwood (Bath), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Chris Pennell (Worcester)

New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa

 

Burns Gamble
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 05/06/2014 09:23

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Re: Burns Gamble
Posted by: HMRH (IP Logged)
Date: 05/06/2014 17:48

Let's give it the lash!

Re: Burns Gamble
Posted by: Tigersfan1 (IP Logged)
Date: 07/06/2014 15:11

The gamble paid off, not with a win, but an excellent performance by Burns.

Re: Burns Gamble
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 07/06/2014 18:38

Agreed, posted elsewhere that I didn't believe that Burns' form warranted selection, and I stand by that opinion. However, he fully repaid the faith shown in him and should have earned a bench spot for 2nd test.

Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can

Re: Burns Gamble
Posted by: Luddite (IP Logged)
Date: 07/06/2014 19:32

He outplayed Cruden

Re: Burns Gamble
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 08/06/2014 12:08

Yes, an odd performance from Cruden. Looked like NZ had decided England's 10 channel would be weak and attacked it a lot early on, Cruden took several inside passes from forwards. Burns flattened everything that came his way, NZ then unusually slow to work out an alternative. Not helped by slack handling when going wide.

England must expect that NZ error count will drop markedly by next week, whilst hoping that their own will too, but England will be making many more changes to the team. NZ unlikely to waste too much time attacking Farrell's channel.

Looking forward to another absorbing contest.

Unhappiness, where's when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life as a fun and take it if we can

Re: Burns Gamble
Posted by: Luddite (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2014 07:51

What's with before every English throw in at lineouts they take a smoko break? Lounge around chatting then amble into lineout formation.

Squeaky should have made them move a lot faster.

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