Decided to subscribe to BT Sport so I could watch Sam's Union debut tonight, Bath v Harlequins.

Wouldn't normally watch Union and apart from seeing how Sam went on, what a waste of money! What an abomination of a sport that Union is! Feel as though I'd have a Trade Descriptions claim for them using the word rugby in the name of their sport. Given that rugby is running, passing, tackling and kicking, only about 10% of what I saw tonight was that. Don't ask me what the other 90% was. But it wasn't rugby.

It was expected that Sam would come on from the bench after about 60 minutes so I watched carefully from the start of the second half. Before Sam came on, I exaggerate not, one scrum in the bottom corner took quarter of an hour. Ok, they had to keep re-setting it and that time covered three separate sin-binnings of three Harlequins forwards. For not pushing properly in the scrum!!! After each one, even though Bath got a penalty, they chose to have another scrum! Can't imagine what Sam would have made of it.

By the time Sam got on, Bath had made sure of the win agInst the side with three men short. Sam got on for the last 18 minutes. He had the ball in his hands twice and didn't have to make a single tackle.

Camera caught a glimpse of him during one of many interminable stoppages (for no apparent reasons) having to hang about standing around in the back line doing nothing 'till play re-started.

All I can say is that he'll be earning his big money pretty easily - if he can stand the boredom and frustration of that game. Plus point is that he'll be fresh enough to do another four years at top level in RL when he's seen out his time in Union.

But he's a top bloke. He'll enjoy the camerderie of what have become his new mates. And, as you'd expect, he spoke very diplomatically when intervierwed at the end of the match. Be interesting to know what he really thinks deep down though.

Wish him well and hope he can some how show his true rugby skills in that ridiculous game.

You know, TV was so poor tonight I tried to watch this game (without realising it was potentially Sam's debut). Gave up after 10 minutes following a procession of scrums, re-set scrums, mystical penalties, more scrums, re-set scrums, more penalties and a couple of kicks. I think I saw one passage of open play. It was terrible. Truly mind numbing.

If I'd known Sam was on the bench I may have stuck with it but doesn't sound like I missed much. Well done to the lad for earning his bread doing very little.

Shouldn't this be in Other Sports?

Not if it concerns the life experiences of a past or future rugby league player. Samuel Burgess is certainly a past and probably a future rugby league player.

Cool story bro......you hate union! Not sure about hatred requiring you to subscribe to a pay tv so you can vent your spleen, but cool story all the same.
Insecurity is an illness......seek help now

Quins had 3 players sin binned at the same time but it didn't matter as the game was slow with ball never in play. I really disappointed with the standard of premiership rugby.

I thought Burgess went well although he did force an offload having expected support to be by his side. He will learn to play less structured if he stays in the centres and will return to the NrL a better and fresh player who enjoys a greater profile, A profile that will hopefully give RL some positive PR.

Can anyone bring up the stats from his last NRL game so we can compare his workload to his first RU one?

At this rate the rest the switch gives him could prolong his future Rugby League career by a couple of seasons.

Sounds like he nailed it. Did he get man of the match?

No. A Bath prop (can't remember his name) got MOM. I think it was because he was the one who pushed the other side's props too hard in all those scrums and got them sin-binned for some reason.

Norther hemispere union is rubbish, simple as really

I'm not one of those RL fans who hates Union I watch it I just prefer league last nights game was a poor one as bath knew they had the game won so just kicked all the time to see the game out Sam did put a prop on his with one of the two times he touched the ball and he will probably end up back in league

I'm not a fan of rugby union by any means, but I think you need to take into consideration the fact that it was raining very heavily during that match last night, so they were never really going to throw the ball out to the centres much.
In addition to this, Bath just wanted to get the game won during a time when some of their players are away on international duty. Quins were sh*t at scrums, conceding a penalty from pretty much every scrum, so it makes sense for Bath to focus on this area and use it to get the win.

Does anyone think Sam will be bored into his second season post World Cup and go back to the NRL? Or see his three years out?

Wonder how much per touch that cost Bath in terms of wages?

I too watched last might she who must be obeyed also watched I commented that was dire, she said straits, I said no the game, she replied I mean money for nothing if they get payed for that.
Bloody hate it when she's right!

Well I guess RL Moonies have to find something to do during the weirdo Moonie off-season from November to January so why not subscribe to a TV channel to watch some other sport which you dislike and consider to be a waste of money, eh?

I can see Ford, Farrell,Burgess, Eastmond all returning to RL once their World Cup and England RU contracts finish. It was my version of a bush tracker challenge on BT vision.

I think the comments of his coach are quite illuminating



He would kill it at centre but not got enough time to learn before the WC.

Will make a great non stop tackling player in the loose though.

Ironic post of the year goes to...

Nearly as daft as spending hours on a message board slating a sport you dislike, though not quite as daft.

Is the game still wasting money paying salaries to the likes of you?

Ford did say that Sam was training in the centres but was getting bored all the time so kept joining in with the forwards.

I just think the technical aspects of the game, all the strange 'non- rigby' stuff that happens on the floor that win teams the
Penalties will slow Sam's progress down.

I've not worked for the RFL for a number of years William though do continue to volunteer a lot of my time to coaching the amateur game and have been fortunate to work with many players who have achieved scholarships and some who are now playing super league.

Meanwhile your 'contribution' to the game continues to be your ramblings on an Internet message board about the modern game and your misty eyed views of the past. Honestly, I don't know which of us should be more proud...

What's Sam doing in boring Union?

Come back Sam.

Back to where you belong



Which other sports can offer you the truly riveting experience of Moonie Magic Weekends, faux internationals against the Exiles (oh, hang on...) and occasional afterthought internationals during the SL off season which hardly anyone takes any notice of?

The summer game will look after you. In fact your Golden Boot award is already in the post in spite of your utter lack of international credentials.

I think it was Craig Gower who was getting dressed after his first game of Union, not bothering getting a shower, a team mate said, "you not having a shower" to which Gower replied "I only need a shower if I break a sweat".

The only times Craig Gower has ever broken sweat was when he was groping the teenage daughter Wayne Pearce, or chasing Mitchell Pearce around with a bottle before vomiting on him, or streaking around a resort nude, then stealing and crashing a golf cart, or holding a butter knife to the throat of a Sydney radio personality before throwing it at resort guests and engaging in a brawl with resort security prior to being ejected from the official function and being detained by the police, or when allegedly trying to kiss a man before biting him on the neck and sparking a brawl, or when assaulting another man.

Etc