Crusader first five Fergus Burke taking his starting opportunity with Mo'unga absent
The main beneficiary of Richie Mo’unga’s absence has been young Crusaders first five Fergus Burke who is getting significant game time in the 10 jersey with the star All Black taking time off.
Burke had his second start of his career against the Hurricanes, but it was the first one against a Kiwi franchise after his game against the Western Force last year in Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
He has been named to start again in the Southern Derby against the Highlanders on Friday night at Forsyth Barr after a steady hand in guiding the Crusaders to a 42-32 win over the Hurricanes.
“I probably say it was quite similar,” Burke told media earlier this week comparing the two starting experiences.
“The nerves were definitely there. Obviously on my first start as well, it was my first start.
“But I feel like as you say that occasion was a bit bigger with it being the Hurricanes Round 1 but they probably compare pretty similarly. I was pretty fired up for both of them but also pretty nervous.”
Burke got valuable experience playing under the roof in Dunedin against the Hurricanes on neutral turf, something that will prepare him well for playing the Highlanders on their home ground this week. He said he was ‘pretty happy’ with the performance which was a great confidence builder.
“It was a good game. I guess I take a lot of confidence out of it. I’m pretty happy with the way it went for most of it. Quite a lot of confidence, to be fair,” he said.
The benefit of playing under the roof helped settled his game, knowing what the conditions would be like on the dry, fast track.
“Obviously you wake up in the morning and look out the window here in Queenstown and it was heavy rain, a bit windy, and it’s something you don’t have to worry about,” he said.
“You’re going down there, you know what the conditions are going to be like, you know what style of footy you can get away with playing. I definitely think that
kind of maybe took a little off my shoulders.”
What would usually be a loud raucous Stadium ended up as an eerie silent place where every piece of communication echoed around the ground with no fans in attendance under New Zealand’s red light Covid restrictions.
The experience was ‘bizarre’ that felt like a training run to Burke without the energy and atmosphere brought by the fans, particularly the students in the Zoo who would be piled in at one end behind the goal posts.
“It was actually, it was real bizarre. It almost felt like an internal game, like a game against ourselves at training where no one’s there,” Burke said.
“But I guess the positives of it is you could hear everyone, so you could hear the communication. That’s sometimes quite hard under the roof.
“So probably made it a bit easier in that sense but yeah definitely miss the atmosphere, miss the Zoo. It’s always a cool experience.”
Without the supporters in attendance, the edge the Highlanders receive might not be there which might ‘play into the hands’ of the Crusaders a little bit Burke says.
“The Highlanders are always obviously tough to play at Forsyth. Having the roof kind of suits their style of play and as you say, the Zoo is always loud and they’ve always got a
good crowd and it echoes in there so it’s always quite loud,” he said.
“So I think it might play into our hands a little bit but obviously they’re still a quality team so it’s going to be a tough one.”
Crusaders assistant coach Andrew Goodman was also impressed by the performance of his young 10 and added that Burke will take it up another notch this week against the Highlanders.
“I thought he did a great job, did all his core roles, kicked his goals, kicked well out of the hand, directed the boys really well,” Goodman said.
“Again, through that first 20 he had some nice early touches on the ball, a couple of little breaks; it would have been great for his confidence and you can expect to see another step up this week from Ferg.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments