So then, talking exclusively to www.falconsrugby.org.uk, is a man with 878 international points, 81 Australian caps, and a future member of the Falcons Hall of Fame. 

What's been the highlight of the season for you? 

Personally?  It's been difficult for me because personally I think I've had an inconsistent year, if only for the fact that I've had a few injuries.  Harlequins destroyed me for about six weeks, and at the start of the year because we weren't playing perhaps as well as we could have, I suppose it was certainly grating on me; it was disappointing the way we played.  Probably the back end of the year has been the most inspirational part of the year, as I said before, we're playing well, we're understanding the game, we're understanding the game plan, the skill level has gone up, and we're executing our game plan and our skill to match what we want to achieve; so that's probably been a team highlight.  Individually, god, I think I've only scored two tries this year, that's the thing, I haven't been able to get across (the line)... one against Wasps and one against Brive I think it was.  Seeing the growth of players, I think that's the biggest thing - I sound like a coach now rather than a player - but certainly for the guys to grow in the terms of squad mentality and understanding what to do, that's possibly my biggest satisfaction this year.

 

 On that, how big a fillip is it for you to see Toby and Mat starring for England and looking like they're going to be there for many years? 

I think it's great.  Taity's not the most talkative kind of guy, but he lets his actions do the talking for him, and what knowledge I have I try to impart on those guys, it's not a case of giving them the full spiel, you know "you've got to do this, you've got to do that", it's making them think a bit more, for example if you run over there, he'll run there, but if you run there, he'll do that - which means outcome A is not a try, outcome B is a try, if you see what I mean.  They're smart, intellectual kids - and they still are kids, I suppose, they're only young, but once they start to think for themselves, (realise) you can't just run around everyone, they might do something between them, and that'll hold the defence up, just making them think a bit more, and just to see them go so well in the Test matches.   

Toby's been the one that has shown he can step up to the plate more than anyone this year; he's in a very responsible position as well, at number 10, and he's done extremely well, he's done very well for the club, he's starting to show that individual brilliance.  It may only be one incident that turns a guy round and puts him in a situation - it could have been that first game against Argentina, you know, intercept try, a kick to win the game to take it to 21-19, 21-20, something like that, and that might have been the spark "hang on, I'm here now, and I've got to do the simple things really well", and ever since then, he's done really well, he's been able to make the right decisions at the right time, and he's definitely come on in the last six months since November.

Three years here, talking about a fourth to the end of your contract.  Is there the possibility of another contract? 

No, no.  I struggle just to run every day, with my age!  When I first came over here I was in pretty good shape, and then the best thing about here, and the club and knowing Rob, there was a... it sort of wasn't a coach-player, it was more of I suppose a coach-mate, older mate type thing, you know.  I said to him "mate listen, I'm not feeling real flush today", and he'd always say to me "look, just turn up at the weekend and play your game" - I mean, obviously I'd be at training just so I could understand the game, but in saying that I wanted training, I wanted to do well, and I did most sessions anyway... but some days, I can't walk (laughs), I can't get out of bed, I can't put my leg through my jeans type thing.  There is that factor that everyone sees the weekend and they see "wow, the performance", this that and the other, but like any sports person that when they retire, it's usually not because they don't love the game, or can't do it on the weekends, it's the preparation in actually getting there.  I'm good at the moment, I've got to keep myself right, I've got to get all the sort of chiropractic care and all that kind of stuff to get myself in the right vein to play, but certainly going again the year after?  I don't think so, not yet anyway, no. 

Have you got everything you wanted to, both as a person and as a rugby player, in making the move over here and playing in what some would say is a more intense competition than the Super 12/14? 

The reason why I ended up here was basically I got punted at home, I got sacked at home, and it was a case of I felt like I could still play, like I could still contribute, and when I came over here, I really didn't know what to expect.  People said to me "are you playing to give a bit of an 'I told you so' to the people back home?", and I said "no, not really, I'm too competitive not to do well" if you know what I mean; so when I came over here and I obviously fitted in well here with the team and everyone else around and the North East and the club, it then became... the footballing side came easy for me, that's the easiest part, and because I've done it and perhaps the level I've achieved made that transition relatively easy.   

I think in terms of achievements, as a team perhaps we'd have liked to have gone further as a team, but saying that, that's the nature of the business I suppose, but certainly from where I am, and what I've been able to... me Matthew Burke personally, yeah, it's been great.  I've been embraced by the people here at Kingston Park, I think because I've been able to put in a performance worthy of wearing the jersey I suppose, and not coming over here and sitting on my, you know, resting on what has been Matthew Burke in the past I suppose.  I think I've been able to contribute to the team, and to the club, to the environment, that sort of stuff, it's been good in that regard, certainly.

And it must obviously be a boost to your own self belief knowing that there's people in Australia who have been talking about you for a fourth World Cup... 

Yeah, yeah (laughing) 

As you know, Eddie Jones said this week that he thought it would be a backward step.  Now to my mind, if it had been 2006, not 2007, nothing would have been said, they'd have found a young lad... 

I think it's all about... We talk about Floody and Taity, and those guys have really had to step up to the plate; if you look at Australian rugby, the positions of 9, 10, 13, and 15 definitely, those guys have been around since professional rugby started, and no-one's questioned them, (a) because they can play, and (b) because no-one's actually stood up there, you know, and wanted to challenge them.  The only guys to break through in the last couple of years are Giteau, Gerrard maybe... no-one's stepped up to the plate and said "hey, I'm a contender", so that age factor I just don't think is an influence and a factor, if you know what I mean.  England was the classic in the last World Cup, if you're good enough you're young enough, if you're young enough you're good enough, that sort of thing.  So for me, yeah, I actually had a great laugh when the Australian coach called me, it was only a quick conversation.  I got off the phone, I literally had to stop, and pull over the car, because I was laughing so hard, the role reversal I suppose you could call it.  Then there was an injury last week to a young fella called Cameron Shepherd, so my name popped up again, so it's quite interesting... knowing John Connolly, he's been over here for a number of years, and coaching out of Bath, and we've seen (his teams) play and that type of stuff, it's a great thrill to know you're still in the minds of people.  Whether it will happen - I've already said it won't happen - they may come calling again but the decision has been made and certainly, and I'm quite serious on this, my family is first and the club is second.

What's the plan for next summer, after your retirement? 

Obviously back to Australia, via a holiday, probably south of France, somewhere like that again, and then back to what is a working environment and getting into it.  I go back to Australia literally on Sunday (after the Bath game) to, I suppose, meet up with a few people, knowing that in 12 months time I'll be finishing the game that I've played, professionally at least, since 1996, and I've got to start making inroads into a suit and tie job.  I don't mind a suit and tie, because I've hardly ever worn one for my whole adult life I suppose, but certainly it'll be enjoyable, it'll be another challenge; where that leads me I don't know, as I said I'll be talking to a few people when I get home.  Australia is where our future lies, we've just bought a house, we had a house, and have bought a new one, that kind of stuff.  Obviously family is a big thing for us as well, so we will end up home, but being here, certainly it's been a great experience, and will remain a big part, a big piece of our lives for many years to come. 

And of course, there was one subject that had to be mentioned… 

One last question, the God thing... 

(laughing lots) 

What did you think? 

I had to laugh (and he still is) because... I had to laugh... I suppose the first question you asked me, about my personal goals and stuff, it was a case of wanting to play well, to repay Rob, for giving me the chance to come over here, and obviously paying the amount of money that I thought I was still worth, so to get that and to play well.  Then to also I suppose give back to the fans, I suppose you could call it, to make sure they get rewarded with someone who's not coming over here and taking a holiday.  As I said, the footballing side of things I find easy, that's not too hard at all.  It was difficult settling in, obviously coming from Australia, (a) great environment, we'd just finished off a house, we've got two young girls, so the whole circumstance was literally like chucked in the air, but coming over here, and seeing that (the God comments), it was quite funny.  I knew that I had another Australian friend over here that wasn't too well taken to as I was, and you know it's all about... the first thing is playing well, the second is playing for your team and for your fans, and I just find that... I was disappointed for that guy because, I suppose, as an Australian as well, I felt like saying "mate, what the **** are you doing?", sort of thing, if you know what I mean, "it's reflecting on me as well."  So that was disappointing for that, but (laughing), the God thing, if I'm playing well I suppose that's the thing, and giving direction...

I suppose in my elder years; as we said beforehand with Taity and Floody, give direction, try and give a little hint, because I've been around - I've been around that long I'm probably getting a bit long in the tooth as well - knowing that I can still hold my own in games and still contribute is the biggest thing.  It took a while to work out who it was, and then once we got it, it was like "Oh God" (laughing), so I know a few of the guys in the changing room were going "who's God, who's God", and I just sit there, and pass it by...  I get stick all of the time, I used to get man of the match and they used to call it Matt of the Match.  We went away on our end of season drink, we went go-karting, and again I got the fastest time in go-karting, and they're all saying "Can you just go back to Australia", sort of thing, so as you can see I'm a bit competitive.

Still off seven? 

Yeah, but I don't get to play enough though, unfortunately. 

Fourteen?   

Yeah, I'm good with 14, have to get a couple of comps in when I go back, exactly right!  

Many thanks to Matt and Mark Smith for both sparing the time and arranging the interview. 

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