I fall for the same thing every time with Union, I buy into the hype, the wonderful presentation of a competitive WC with our national team playing with the nations recognition in their own stadium-all very impressive.
However when the game kicks off within no time at all I grow bored of the attributes I'm told I should respect as the 'thinking's man's rugby' (rucks/mauls etc). Because unlike a large percentage of the nation, I know about rugby league, and nothing advertises league more than a game of union.
So here we have it, told that it's one of the biggest games in England history and of course in the rugby world cup (for the record nothing has boiled my blood more than the pig ignorance of the RFU calling the comp RWC rather than the Rugby Union WC completely disregarding that there's another code) In this game Sam Burgess is destined to fail in the eyes of the media (who are all London based Union supporters from their public school days) when really is he to blame?
Lancaster plays an immobile Faz at 10 with the most static centre in all of rugby Barrit at 13 with Sam, an inexperienced RU player between the two doing what he can. Firstly he hammered Roberts shutting him of the game, knocked North into touch and generally did what he could. Scoreline was in England's favour until Sam was subbed, says it all really.
No surprise the 'northern league lad' is taking the stick...
I hope he comes back to league, where his skills shine, in a much more entertaining game.
If only league had money and brains behind it...
