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.

Ford: "Gut feeling" is Burgess will play in pack

Discussion started by TCM2007 (IP Logged), 18/02/2014 23:37

TCM2007
18/02/2014 23:37

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:02:20:13:11:52 by TCM2007.

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liquidmonkey
18/02/2014 23:52

Stuart, that is an excellent summary.

Desperate affairs require desperate measures.
Horatio Nelson

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Bathovalballer
19/02/2014 00:42

I hope he becomes a dynamic, ball carrying, defence wreaking, distributing, big tackling number 8 which we have not really had since the days of 'super-man' Dan Lyle. Sam could be the best number 8 in the world!!

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Bri
19/02/2014 02:10

Thanks very much Stuart,I'm not sure about one thing,If the Rfu had paid the transfer fee would of we played him at centre like they see him but now we have paid it we are going to play him in the pack?
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.

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@Hydor18
19/02/2014 09:48

Strikes me that it must be a particularly exciting and interesting position to be a coach at Bath right now. Big ambitious budget, world class facilities, and a mindset that appears to be to think outside the box.

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Tricky=Legend
19/02/2014 13:08

Do we not think that this might be a bit of Ford sticking two fingers up to England??

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.

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Clarkey3k
19/02/2014 15:55

As the inebriated reporter at Private Eye would say - shurely shome mishtake - I will try and keep an open mind..

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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My mind's been going places without me lately - Bushfire The B52's

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TCM2007
19/02/2014 18:29

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!

Stuart

Former ed.

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cb2
19/02/2014 19:21

This sounds a lot like the plans to have Andy Farrell changing the way a flanker plays in union. The guy has the talent but is he quick enough to play union centre or can he pick up the game at 6? I hope so.

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grubbyhat1865
19/02/2014 19:43

Quote:

TCM2007
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!

Clearly telling porkies

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Widcombe boy
19/02/2014 20:20

Were you recording Stu? Spot on

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Peasedown Exile
20/02/2014 12:52

Stu has A very good memory.

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Miles Offside
20/02/2014 21:01

I was dubious about Sam becoming the "next great England centre", but I am really excited about him becoming the best ever England No.8.

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!

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