I thought it was Rob’s testimonial next year?

That’d be a boat load of cash to give up if it was.

Have to agree that Brough should be England's first choice. As good as Burrow is, he just doesn't have the all round game that Brough does.

Did anyone else note Gardner's pathectic effort on Brough's try?

Indeed. Bruogh has reached these peaks before in his career before imploding, on and off the field.

I'd like to see him dominate a big team in a big game before I am ready to annoint him as the best scrum half in England.

I certainly think he and Rob are the front runners for the jersey.

Firstly, just noting the very clever yet veiled sarcastic comment G1... you are a master!



However, I understand what you mean, he has never quite managed to maintain his form and therefore look at his sublime best for a whole season. He needs to look at his best in a big CC game or play-off game against some class opposition. I think he should be given the Exiles nod at no. 7 for England though and let see how he fairs bossing and controlling a representative line-up. If Brough can hold is current form until the end of this season then I think he might be the nailed-on first choice! Lets see!

Sorry Old Feller sort of opened my gob before reading, I do agree that at the moment as G1 posts, brough and robbie are the two front runners for international team. With all the young players around at the moment our international side looks to have a good future.

No he wasn't. His form was mixed throughout but he was clearly learning.

Nor did his form dip significantly, indeed he played an important role in the end of season run in (winning 8 from the last 10 one loss being the 21 -20 loss to you guys). Brough was key in wins at Wigan and Warrington.

This year there have been 1 or 2 blips but over all he is playing at a higher level week in and week out.

The issue for Brough is that it's a long way up from being the key player in a team with relatively low expectations to being the pivot in a side at international level.

Thinking time is greatly reduced and he's not going to be playing behind a pack that most weeks runs over the top of its opposition and gives him time to play.

..... And the better candidate in those debilitating circumstances would be ..... who ?

He's by far the best GB has.... Oh and his try was better than Burrow's. Burrow was doing his usual headless chicken routine which for once - against a tired defence - paid dividends. Nice step though.

He hasn't even played for GB yet.

For years the pressure has been on the GB/England 7. No instant success and you're done. Burrow's man of the series and series win against the Kiwis didn't buy him much grace. Brough will have to deliver fairly instantly before he's turned on by fans, critics and coaches alike.

Brough will need to deliver before a game's been played, as indeed will Burrow, if he's not to be written off by the great unwashed west of the Pennines.

I hope we get to see Brough given an opportunity with England in the Exiles match and (barring a calamity in that) the Quad series at the season end. His bombs appear the most productive in the league and he's a good place kicking option to have around either as first choice or back up.

Don't dispute that.....BUT again, if not Brough, who ? He is by far the best GB / UK ( better ? ) born scrum half.

You make an important point.

Brough is currently playing well and has one of the best long kicks in general play in SL but it has to be noted that he has enjoyed the luxury of a pack that is consistently crossing the gain line.

IMO Burrow has been quietly regaining his fitness, confidence and hence form. He is looking sharp and fast once again and it is no surprise that this has coincided with our improved pack giving him the space needed for a SH to perform as they too have been crossing the gain line recently. For much of this season he has played behind a pack that has given him too little protection.

He is regularly looking to break the line and his last 2 tries have had class written all over them. Not just duck and scoot. For both tries he used a feint and step to wrong foot the defenders (centre & fullback) then pace to go round them and score.

IMO much too soon to write him off.

What try were you watching on Friday? His try which I should add was first class finishing, was exactly what he does far too much of in the build up. Everybody around me was groaning when he yet again ran up his own arris as usual. The fact that the Catalans defence was so tired and lazy by that point was our luck, that Burrow doing the duck and scoot got him through to then display class at finishing the try.

Infact if you look at the highlights of the match, you will see just how many times Burrow runs up his own arris and gets tackled.

I reckon that if Burrow actually added something new to his game and tried what he did on Friday much less per match, then he would actually improve his try return by them coming off more.

What would you like to see him add to his game?

Neutral POV - I think Brough is a more talented half than Burrow.

Burrow's running game can be brilliant (although it seems less effective than in years gone by) but the rest of his game is inferior to Brough I reckon, especially his game awareness and kicking game.

Brough has a lot more structure and composure to his game, but is still a very dangerous runner of the ball.

Well I could equally ask you which games have you been watching this year?

My point is that Burrow has been regaining his timing and speed and that is evident in his improved form. To date he is second only to Sam Tomkins in tackle busts with 61 so far (31 in the whole of last season), is in 18th place for clean breaks (more than last year already) with Hall the only Leeds player above him and he has scored more tries this year already than last year. Most of his other stats are upon last year too with errors down.

On Friday those around you who groaned were proven to be wrong on this occassion. He did beat the first line of defence and the last line too. He has shown a greater appetite recently to try and beat the defence which has resulted in more tries, more clean breaks and more tackle busts therefore I think you are being a little harsh on Burrow

What new things are you suggesting he adds to his game?

You could, but I don't know why you would. I asked you what try you were watching on Friday, I don't know why you have assumed games.




No, your point was this.




Which was why I asked, what try you were watching on Friday.




Something that doesn't involve running up his own arris for most of a game, and bomb numerous opportunities for his team.

A fully fit McGuire is better than both of them.

I also watched the try on Friday and didn't groan when he beat the first line or when he finished the try in classy style. Which bit of his try didn't you like?

I had also mentioned his try in the previous game when with space out wide he fixed and stood up his defender and sped into the gap he had created with classical attacking centre play. Which bit of this try did you groan at?

He also scored the game before that.



No my whole point in context was exactly this:
IMO Burrow has been quietly regaining his fitness, confidence and hence form. He is looking sharp and fast once again and it is no surprise that this has coincided with our improved pack giving him the space needed for a SH to perform as they too have been crossing the gain line recently. For much of this season he has played behind a pack that has given him too little protection.

He is regularly looking to break the line and his last 2 tries have had class written all over them. Not just duck and scoot. For both tries he used a feint and step to wrong foot the defenders (centre & fullback) then pace to go round them and score.

IMO much too soon to write him off.




What are the numerous opportunities that Burrow has bombed?

Since Burrow incurred his head injuires he suffered a loss of form and confidence, as did McGuire after his previous injury. McGuire returned to form in style last year and now Burrow is also looking sharper once again with more pace, better timing and the confidence to try and take on defences. Because it doesn't always come off doesn't make it wrong to try (McGuire's fancy footwork also doesn't always come off nor do Sinfield's passes)

If you talk with opposition forwards they will tell you that Burrow is one of the hardest players to defend against in SL. When he takes the ball he is normally in heavy traffic with a full pack bearing down.

His size largely dictates his playing style which has been good enough to maintain his place at Leeds and until injury be a first choice international. So nothing wrong with his style only his form. With Sinfield our main ball player Burrow's main role as with McGuire is a strike and support player.

I would like to see Burrow getting the ball wider out more often as the extra space will mean he will score more tries like the one against Crusaders.

You and the groaners do not seem to have spotted that Burrow is busting tackles and making clean breaks and more carries and more tries. For much of this time he had the handicap of playing has behind a beaten pack.

So why not applaud his return to better form?

Some good points JC and i have also mentioned his early season indifferent form but it's good to see his confidence returning and the line breaks and electrifying pace to finish them off.
Gotcha no doubts Burrow has taken the wrong options and been off form at times this year and i still think some of his vision for overlaps and breaks can improve you can't just dismiss his recent upturn in form and try scoring as not worthy as Broughs try.

After seeing Boots N All tonight I must say I preferred Brough's try to Young Robert's.

Agree entirely.

FWIW I see nothing wrong with a scrum half who is willing to take on the line as regularly as Burrow does.

FWIW Burrow has an excellent kicking game. He's not our main kicker but when it's called into play it's superb.

And finally, FWIW, this thing about Burrow's early season form is a fallacy. Burrow has been on top form all season, collecting MOM awards with regularity.