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'Correct decision': Freddie Burns quickly goes from hero to villain

(Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Just 19 minutes of the new Gallagher Premiership season were needed for the title-clinching Freddie Burns to go from hero to villain for Leicester at Exeter on Saturday. The affable 32-year-old had stepped off the Twickenham bench 84 days earlier for the injured George Ford, going on to dramatically land the game-winning drop goal with seconds remaining in the final versus Saracens.

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Burns revelled in the limelight since then, quite rightly celebrating to the hilt the most joyous rugby moment of his lifetime. However, he was reminded just twelve weeks later how fickle the sport of rugby can be when the 2022/23 season got underway, shipping a yellow card, conceding a penalty try and then failing an interval HIA that ruled him out of playing the second half.

The scores were level at 3-all when Leicester got themselves into an early muddle when a Jimmy Gopperth kick from inside his own half was brilliantly charged down and subsequently kicked ahead.

This resulted in a frantic footrace between Burns and his opposite No10, Exeter’s Harvey Skinner, and it ended with the Leicester player being first to get to the ball as it tumbled behind the Sandy Park goal line.

However, rather than being the Leicester savour, it eventually turned out that the tidying-up intervention by Burns was illegal as he deliberately slapped the ball beyond the dead ball line and referee Christophe Ridley, following consultation with TMO David Rose, decided that it was a yellow card against the Tigers player and a penalty try for Exeter, putting the hosts 10-3 ahead. Here is how the decision was reached live on BT Sport:

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Ugo Monye: I think that needs checking. It’s a brilliant charge down and then the reaction of Exeter to turn that ball, the composure to send it backwards. Freddie Burns does really well to get it but he just knocks that out. That is a penalty try and yellow card in my opinion. You cannot hit the ball out.

Lawrence Dallaglio: No doubt about that. Let’s have a listen to the referees talk us through that, but Freddie Burns quite clearly is not looking to ground it.

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Ridley: Ten has deliberately batted that dead. Ten is going to the bin for that action. The question now is the ball is bouncing and the dynamics are so tight, let’s look at the position of the Exeter player and whether we think he probably would have scored… Just from that angle, the Exeter player is going to be the next player to get to that ball if not for the ten’s actions.

Dallaglio: Absolutely the correct decision, the first try of the game and it’s a lovely bit of skill and vision. The Exeter dead ball area, look at the size of it, it’s enormous and Freddie Burns was always going to have to make up ground. Correct decision and we will see whether the Chiefs can capitalise even further.

Exeter initially didn’t as the match remained scoreless while Burns was in the sin bin, and he was to return after his enforced period of rest to kick a Leicester penalty and cut the margin to 10-6.

However, the Chiefs went on to fare better nearing the end of the first half, scoring their second try before the interval through Solomone Kata to lead 17-6 at the break. Burns took a knock to the head in the build-up to that second score and a failed HIA meant he didn’t take part in the second half.

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Leicester hit back to lead going down the finishing straight but they were undone 24-20 by a clock-in-the-red converted try from replacement Patrick Schickerling.

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Hellhound 14 minutes ago
What has happened to Aphelele Fassi?

Willie will always be the most missed player for me once he retires. He wasn't interested in scoring tries. The ultimate team player. Has the most assists in tries in the Bok team, and his kicks always spot on, at least 95% of the time. He reads the game like no other player can. He wasn't flashy, and people didn't notice him because of that. Great rugby head and knowledge. He should be catapulted into an assistant coach in the rugby system. He should really consider coaching.


Damian Willemse is an excellent fullback and he is the number 1 fullback. He can play the entire backline positions, except maybe 9, but I'm sure he would be able too if he wanted. No one is taking that away from him, only stand in while he is injured. He is world class and you don't swap that out. He also got wicked dancing feet, great eye for openings, and reads a game like few can, like Willie Le Roux. Also very strong on his feet, with absolute great hands and his kicking game is just as good.


As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.

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RedWarrior 55 minutes ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.

Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.

Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.

They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.

That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.

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