what a brilliant story teller and general all round guy, was a great player for us at Bath, was very interesting to here his side of the story of things that you just had no idea about. Lots of respect to him for waiting until the dust settles to tell his story especially when everyone was throwing him under the bus for the World cup. Absolutely fascinating story
Was a consumate pro. I heard a lot of bad culture about Ford snr at the time. I still rate George as a great 10. But would have loved to see SSB stay in union
Watch Slammin’ Sam narrated by Russell Crowe, it’s Burgesses documentary it’s really good. He’s loved in Australia and will go down as one of the great all time forwards in the NRL
This show is always full of great content. But this interview was, hands down, the best one yet. You have to admire the straight-talking honesty of Burgess. Seems a top lad.
This was the best podcast to date, new found respect for Burgess. I'll put my hand up and admit I criticised his selection at the time and thought it was politics. But he is an incredible athlete, he is also extremely grounded, probably because he's a northerner (up the North). Must be incredibly hard to keep all that bs to yourself when you're getting slated!
People forget England were winning against Wales and Sam was doing exactly what he was selected for he kept Jamie Roberts quiet all game until he went off, then Ford n Farrell couldn't hold him in the centre any more.
It was nothing to do with keeping Jamie quiet it was Gareth Davis try and mike brown conceding a penalty and then England inability to make a good decision and go for the corner it was nothing to do with Sam
My mate told me stories from living in same block of flats as the Burgess brothers and that they were absolute top blokes. A true legend. Up the north.
This has been an amazing insight to Sam Burgess. Only thought he was drafted in for the 2015 World Cup, but listening to him he seems a genuine honest player. Wish him all the very best in the future👍🏾
That was without doubt the best sports interview I've ever watched. Totally engaging from start to finish. Honest, passionate, and erudite. I liked Sam Burgess before, I love him now!
I remember being there at Twickenham for the Bath v Saracens final., Sam was without doubt MOTM (think Farrell got it officially) i was there in a souths shirt and Slammin gave the shirt a smile before being the only player to stop and say hello to the disabled fans from both sides, not a single player stopped.. great man and even better player..
I think the fact Hasks doesnt correct Sam on any of his views on England at the time suggests a lot to be true. Also think Hasks would of made a brilliant RL prop.
There can not be two fathers and two sons in the same team and management and not have a serious conflict. 2015 was a total debacle because of this and everyone knew it was not Burgess. However did he deserve his place well no he did not. But he did not let us down. Lancaster and his support team let us down.
Lifelong RU fan, England and Bath. Nothing but huge respect for Burgess as a player and a person. Always was and always will be a legend in my mind. Shockingly treated by England but so pleased he remains mates with the Bishop of Banterbury. Great episode. Ford should be ashamed.
@@hyllaf I guess you are referring to the current allegations of drug use and domestic abuse? If proven to be true (and it seems likely from the reports) it would completely change my opinion of SB. But it would seem to be a change that came with his success....ref his wifes comments about how 'Good Sam' because 'Bad Sam'. But it is easy to make comments in hindsight. I for one was not aware of any allegations or suspicions before now. Just deeply sad if true.
Burgess would have been an amazing 6, and I think Eddie Jones would have shaped him very well the following year. It's a shame with the issues, politics, and media that Burgess was saddled with
6 was deffo his best position and is where he was playing at Bath, whilst he could obviously do a job at inside centre he's more effective at 6. Watching him as a 17/18 year old for Bradford you knew he was going to be a top, top player, most great players shine at a young age.
Brilliant interview. As a RL fan (but also a RU fan) it was clear England never used him correctly and he was always going to end up as a scapegoat. He's a forward, he shines with that workrate and physicality and I guess Bath fans will know he played best in the pack. Great guy, outstanding player. Sidenote - Hask nodding & smiling at the mention of State of Origin - if you haven't seen it, make time to watch it.
His progress within a short space of time on the flank was excellent. The only question I would have is that he could've been better suited as a 7 than 6.
@@SB-th8uc Admire Sam tremendously. Love league and union, both. But I'm not sure he was ever going to play at 6 or 7. Arguably, they're the two most specialist positions in Union. I don't mind being 'schooled' on this but surely, given a bit more time, he would have been a better fit at 8.
Great episode. Remember watching the Grand Final. The Burgess brothers all played well and it was a big thing for South Sidney to win. What a great bloke Sam Burgess is. Real pity injury finished his rugby.
Sam Burgess! Got to admire the mans honesty, his frankness and his opinions. Wonderful insight and ( just saying ) I think he is telling the truth. Fantastic episode especially on the subject of nepotism!!!😂😉😇😂
Henry Burton . The true test of an elite sportsman is when they are on the bench or sitting in the stands. Not so much in rugby but more so in football. When the camera pans to the bench, we can sometimes see them bitching and having a moan. There are times when the team may score and they do not seem pleased! They say that the best ever lion that toured was Jason Leonard, he is still held up as an example and revered in hushed tones to this day. Apparently he was the ultimate team player, be it on the pitch, sat on the bench or up in the stands. They called for him in 2003 when England's dominant scrum was being constantly penalised. Penalty after penalty as I personally thought the referee was biased against our scrum. Not sure when he ambled on to stabilise things but one of the England players ( Lawrence, maybe ? ) said that just the sight of him convinced most of the players that they were going to be alright. I think it was a pivotal moment in the game, Australia would have been awarded kick able penalties and may have gone on to win, long before extra time. It was a masterful substitution. In relation to Sams comments, in due context to the Wales 2015 World Cup game, it does make me wonder if they were all singing from the same hymn sheet without any personal agenda. Many will argue with my opinion, Wales, prior to this substitution were forcing mistakes and beginning to get a grip on the game. I just wonder, bearing in mind this podcasts comments, what type of player Sam and the team needed at this juncture of the game? ( just my opinion and speculation based on this podcast because in any elite sport, I'm sure the only true agenda is to win! )
@@henryweatherly8777 "They called for him in 2003 when England's dominant scrum was being constantly penalised. Penalty after penalty as I personally thought the referee was biased against our scrum." I remember this like it was yesterday. I have absolutely no doubt if the ref could have awarded Australia the victory he would have done. Same with dicey TMO in 2007. Same with France in 2011. Ref basically chose the winner.
I just want to say I really love Alex Payne and James Haskell's dynamic now. At first I hated it. Sometimes it's like watching a bear beat up a small posh child, but other times I see Payne cracks the prefect boarding school whip and Hask bends the knee. They aggro each other in different ways and it's amusing.
Do a Sam Burgess pt2! Best interview. Been a massive supporter of Burgess in League/Union. Could have been a great player under EJ! Great player and person.
wildebest I watched the game 2 weeks ago. He was substituted around the 66th minute. George Ford comes on. Even the announcers said Burgess neutralized Jamie Roberts. After that the flood gates opened. I suggest you rewatch it.
wildebest I happen to agree with you on some of this. And I follow both Rugby League and Union extensively. Yet, the proof is in the puddin. He gets subbed and Goerge Ford comes on. His defense was not good although to his credit he played great D vs NZ in RUWC2019. Once Burgees is off Wales pounce and come back. I'm not saying you are, yet blaming him for England's RWC failure is laughable. England pulled him out and they lost.
What an interview. Loved everyone second of it. I have never heard that much of honesty from one person, well played Sam Burgess. The world needs more of that honesty and attitude, especially right now.
Fantastic interview, as someone who grew up playing and following Union, but went to live in Australia and have followed the NRL since the early 2000s it's so good to see a frank, honest open perspective - I wish he'd been given more of an opportunity to speak about playing alongside and against greats of the modern game in that form. I have massive respect for Sam, he's a competitor who wants 'it', that made it for him in the NRL, where it is tough, and directed his career bro Union and back again. Interesting to see if there is a response from the Ford camp... One of the best podcasts for sure.
Thoroughly enjoyed the pod. What a top bloke Sam is. I could never understand why England took him off against Wales, he kept the wonderful Jamie Roberts quiet. Once Sam was replaced Jamie was free to create devastation
He was incredibly mismanaged as a player, imagine for example he was in the hands of the NZRU. Things would have turned out much more differently, look what they did to Sonny Bill
I admit I was totally wrong about Sam Burgess and thought he bottled it after World Cup 2015 but what a honest and likeable guy, The Fords wow what a pair of prats. Anyone else loved the mixed Northern and Aussie accent? 😂
Ronan Rogers was going to say the same thing. I’m aussie and all I hear is a pommy/northern accent. Guess it’s different if you know the accent inside out. It’s like aussies who live in the US or England and have a twang to their accent, can spot it a mile away.
Just loved hearing Sam's honesty! What a great player and person!! As a Wales fan I honestly think his opinion on that game in 2015 is spot on, we shouldn't have won that game!!
Thanks for putting the record straight Sam. I read the papers and media when you went back to Australia after the WC and I put my hand up as one of those who felt that you’d manipulated the system to be part of the 2015 WC. Just goes to show how the media can lead you down a certain path. Good luck to you and thanks for being so honest. Great interview.
I worked with Sam's dad Mark when I was physio at Dewsbury I see so much of Mark's drive and passion in Sam. I also tried to help Mark with treatment when he was ill at his home, Sam often there I knew then his passion would take him far. I am sending love and strength to you I know life can be cruel but remember your dad is by your side and we both know what a great guy he was and what a great honest guy you are keep true to yourself! There will always be those who want to trip you up.🙌❤️
Best interview the Alex has done, keeps pressing and pressing and gets some great insight from the incredibly interesting Burgess, genuinely class all round.
Wow amazing. Sam is such an honest guy, so interesting to find out what happened in 2015. The press made him out to be a pre-madona and he is anything but.
Great interview. Love league and union in equal measure. Very sad that egos got in the way of 2015 tournament. Great player. Looking forward to part 2 in January. (Plague permitting)
Awesome Sam, met you in Bath in a few times and you were a total gentleman. Wishing you all the best for your future. What a mega player you have been, only wish the Union dice had rolled your way, as you would have been successful in both codes. Cheers mate
Listening in Australia in April 2022. Great podcast. Sam’s definitely a leader, had an amazing playing career, now winner of SAS who dares wins where he was a standout and now coaching. Wish him all the best …
The thing most English RU fans don’t realise is that RU in Australia is a small sport, league dwarfs it. And burgess was the king of league in Australia for a long time. He truly was a champion player. Look up his documentary Slammin’ Sam narrated by Russell Crowe to get an insight into burgess
This (along with the 1st Ben Ryan episode) has to be the best one yet! ...and I would've loved to see Hask in the NRL!! He would've taken Oz over with bants alone....
Sam Burgess - living legend and rags to riches hero - deserves every last scrap of his success! Where are the rugby union players that can inspire kids like him! NRL has crushed union in Australia (where I live) because of the passion that players like Sam have brought to the game. Wish he had played union from the start! Great work Paino and Coffee nause Haskell for just letting him talk. 🤓
If Burgess played Rara from the start coming from the area he comes from you would've never heard of him! Tremendous snobbery & ignorance in the UK for each other's codes...
@@martinharvey3990 Sadly true. Works both ways, too. I'm from a league area - but didn't have the skill. Played union instead and had a fantastic 20 years of doing so. It was very annoying, whilst living and playing (amateur) union in London hear constant sneering, concerning my northern accent and liking for rugby league... Boring... But it was equally tedious to have to 'insist' on having the 5/6 nations on the telly in my local pub when I went home. Thankfully, whilst be without decent skills in either code, I was quite large and 'uncompromising' so tended to get my own way. But it shouldn't have come down to that.
Great interview. Seems like a top bloke and was a big fan of him in his short time in union. But seeing him brings back bad memories for me, as someone who paid 310 quid to watch England vs Wales in row 10 at Twickenham in the 2015 world cup. I still feel robbed!!! Not only robbed of watching England beat Wales in a home world cup, but robbed of seeing Sam Burgess live up to his potential in the game! Given time he'd have made the Lions tour and possibly even the next World Cup...
Always found it strange that the management at bath never lined up with the national team when it came to playing Burgess, seem the answer has come to light at last
Incredible! Never heard a sportsman be so brutally honest about his career & those he shared it with. He broke the unwritten rule of keeping things in the dressing room but I'm glad he did. Emotions about union are still raw after 5yrs it seems and they'll never be a reconciliation with the Ford family (possibly Robshaw as well now he's dismissed him as just an experienced player & not a true test captain). So many players & coaches had their careers changed by his stint in union: George Ford Mike Ford Lancaster Catt Farrell snr Luthur Burrell (not getting picked for the WC when he should) Carl Fearns (leaving bath so they could play Sam at 6) Eastmond (leaving Bath when they decided to play Sam at 12) They'll be a lot of messages flying round between union players tonight & they'll be a fallout to this interview...Mike Ford will surely have to respond as Sam's dragged his name through the gutter tonight. Stunning stuff!
Geordan Murphy's response to Sam's comments made me laugh. I think Sam's points here give his response a lot of context: "I have known both guys a long time and they are both good human beings," Such high praise , indeed they are biological humans, potentially even 'good'! "Mike is incredibly experienced and has been great for me in my role," *me in my role* Doesn't once mention what Mike does for the team, if anything. How have Leicester been doing in recent times? Hmm...
Great interview, great honesty. Not surprised that the BBC headline was just about comments re Ford. Shame they didnt explain the full context and recommend that people listen to the whole interview.
Favourite episode of House of Rugby without doubt. After just listening to this controversy about 2015 World Cup, would love Finn Russell to be next guest and hopefully get insight into his non-inclusion of 6 Nations after row with Gregor Townsend. House of Rugby.....get it sorted 😂
Absolutely fantastic episode! I was gutted by 2015 and it was so easy to lambast Lancaster and Burgess at the time. Got to say this really revealed the other side of this without being bitter. He couldn’t help being a stand out talent to stiffen up England’s centre. What a decent bloke.
What have I taken out of this interview...I really like Sam Burgess and I’m desperately sad he wasn’t utilised properly in Union. I’d completely forgotten about Bath being in the final! Having worked for a few companies in my life I instantly recognise stories about micro managing and poor management of players or staff/employees. We need more honesty and truth from players AND management/coaching staff (with each other). All the politics behind the scenes can really interfere with the ability to run a team properly and get the best out of them
Enjoyed this! Experienced much of the egos in union at amateur level (local club & uni) funnily enough never experienced it in league (local clubs & uni). Nice to see Haskell's down to earth- had him down wrong.
Great show guys from a passionate welsh fan, Sam said a few times he doesn't know how England lost to Wales. The difference was unlike England Wales played as a team, we never give up, we may not always win be we play for 80 plus minutes. Sam has had an amazing career in RL and could have had an equally amazing career in union but unfortunately for England was mis managed. Good luck in your retirement, I think with your honesty you'd do a great job as a pundit.
Really enjoyed this video. I'm glad Sam has had the chance to put this out. 2014 - 2015 was not English Rugby Union's best time. There are still members of the Prawn Sandwich Brigade who talk rubbish about Sam in 2022 but it's English Rugby Union that suffers because we are not learning from our mistakes. I'm a slightly bigger Union fan than league but I respect League and not that impressed with the club v country politics that cripple the largest Rugby Union player base on the planet. We are our own worse enemies. Anyway, here's to Sam. What a brilliant guy.
Remember watching Sam at Bath playing 12. He was very good. Big presence with a big defence. My favourite player stole the show though - Peter Stringer!
Fantastic episode, every week is always getting better. What a Legend Sam is... nice to see a bigger picture of the 2015 world cup. Very honest and open chat
@Alex Payne - from your vid quality I would guess that your PC's CPU is overheating. Check the cooler/fan. Great interview - masterclass in how top athletes work best in a team. Great to see Burgess' intelligence shine through.
I’m pretty sure Haskell had more caps than anyone on that team? Shame he couldn’t take on more of a leadership role. Great interview, Sam Burgess good on ya mate!