Slammin’ Sam can print out these words on his nearest printer and pin it to the dressing room wall in Cork
England Saxons travel to Ireland, this week, with plenty of big-name Premiership players in train. Chris Ashton, Marland Yarde and Christian Wade are among the Saxons squad but Bath centre Sam Burgess will be centre of attention during his time in Cork.
The former Bradford and South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league star converted to union late last year and has garnered oodles of press coverage in England. He has scored one try in his five Bath appearances, to date, but has already been fast-tracked to England’s ‘A’ team. Burgess is as renowned for his defensive hits [below] as his attacking bursts and line breaks.
Asked about the Saxons’ high profile inclusions, Ireland forward Iain Henderson told us, ‘There are a few big names; Ashton is in the team and your man, Burgess, is in there, [Exeter’s] Thomas Waldrom is in the pack. They have put out a good team. They had a decent enough team last year as well however we did a job over there in Gloucester last year, over in Kingsholm.
‘It seems like a strong team but there is no reason why we can’t put out a decent team with the squad we have down here at the minute.’ A winning result, Henderson feels, is a distinct possibility at Irish Independent [Musgrave] Park.
Henderson’s knowledge of Burgess is based on ‘clips you see of him in Youtube, floating about places’ and talk about the Englisman from fellow players. He adds, ‘Burgess is a big guy, big ball carrier but there is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to quieten him down and try and put him in his place.’
Openside
Henderson has second and back row experience with both Ulster and Ireland and, provided he comes through the Saxons game unscathed, is in line to cover both departments during the Six Nations. Ireland’s coaching staff remain hopeful Sean O’Brien will be fit to face Italy but, if not, Henderson says he would be happy to fill in at openside.
‘It is usually only blindside for me,’ he said. ‘I would be open to it, but usually a fitter athlete would tend to [play there]; less of a ball carrier more of a poacher would get that openside position. I wouldn’t be averse to it if I was to get game time. I would be most comfortable at blindside.’
Henderson is delighted to be back in the mix with his province and the national side following hip surgery [some of his hip-bone was shaved down] and an extended period on the sideline. During an, at times, frustrating period of rehabilitation, watching Ulster’s European struggles and increased PR duties, Henderson found solace in a motor repair course with teammate Andrew Trimble.
‘With the assistance of our tutor,’ he said, ‘we replaced a clutch in my classic Mini. The fingers are just about getting right from foostering about and trying to get it. We enjoyed it and it was something that got us away from spending hours on end in the gym.
‘It was something we could get at, something we could go away and get our heads showered. Obviously Trimby has been out for a good while so we needed something to get our head away.’
