PLAY IT AGAIN SAM

Or not maybe? The inevitable news that Sam Burgess will leave Bath and return to Sydney and the Rabbitohs after less than a year in English Rugby Union leaves egg on many faces. First, let's remind ourselves that Sam is only 26 and was offered an amazing financial deal by the RFU, sorry, Bath Rugby Club, to move over to England and switch codes. Very few players would have turned it down, especially as there was a strong hint that he might be helicoptered straight into the England RWC squad for 2019, sorry, 2015. Second, he obviously missed his family in Australia (his three brothers all play rugby there), and working in England whilst marrying his Australian girlfriend in Sydney in December was never ideal (she works there as well). Third, he somehow seems to have copped a large amount of the blame for England's abject performance over the last six weeks, sorry, four weeks, as they only lasted that long. This is unfair and lazy analysis from people who know better.

Okay, its egg time, it is now clear that Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team, mainly Andy Farrell, saw Sam as a perfect replacement for the injured Manu Tuilagi in the centre for England for RWC 2015, not four years time, which everyone agreed would be the necessary timetable required to get him up to speed with the different code. Rumours were he almost became the RFU's first centrally contracted player, but when Bath got involved, they were forced to stump up all the money required to bring him over (not sure how they managed it within the Premiership salary cap, but, hey, who cares), as their Premiership rivals rightly complained at any RFU assistance. The flaw in the plan was that Bath already had two world class centres in Eastmond and Joseph, and having experimented with Sam in that position, then moved him to back row, where his "slammin" ball carrying ability could be more effective. Everyone seemed mesmerized by Sam, referring to him as "the greatest rugby player on the planet" and indicating that anyone who has his own TV show in Australia, could turn anything to gold.

Sam with his Mum and brothers

So, after just a half season with Bath, he was propelled into the England RWC squad as a centre, at the expense of Luther Burrell, Kyle Eastmond and Billy Twelvetrees, and eventually, after JJ's injury, became first pick against Wales, at the expense of Henry Slade. To be fair, England did not fall apart in that game until he was substituted. However, it is madness to think that anyone could master the game of Union after just 20 games, and only one full international friendly - even Andy Farrell, Henry Paul, Iestyn Harris or Benji Marshall couldn't make the transition after playing more games in the same position. In fact, Sonny Bill is the only success story, and he has been around for some time learning his trade. Also, did they forget that Sam is a Rugby League prop, arguably the best League prop there has ever been, but this is Union and he was up against such quality centres as Roberts, Kuridrani, Nonu, Giteau, Smith and North. What the impact will be on those who failed to manage Sam during his short Union career remains to be seen, and, hopefully, communication between RFU and the Premiership Clubs will also be reviewed, as the respective agendas have never seemed more at odds.

A young Sam

So, farewell Sam, writing a blog without you will be less exciting, and hope the return to Rugby League and family down under work out well for you.