A long-haired botany student who had declined an All Black trial the year before in protest against apartheid.
The old farts as Will Carling would have called them, must have winced when Bob Burgess was picked for his All Black debut in 1971 but crusty selector Ivan Vodanovich and hispals opted for the young Manawatu five eighths.
Burgess was steady until he was concussed in the third test of that series with the Lions and after glandular fever attacked him the following season, he had to wait until the lengthy end of year tour to Europe to return to the black jersey.
A natural runner, Burgess' play did not gel easily with Sid Going and was more suited to someone who distributed all match rather than the brilliantly unpredictable Northland halfback. Still there were enough powerful reviews of Burgess and praise for his sure hands and running game for All Black supporters to feel they had a gem.
But as soon as that gleam burned brighter, Burgess was gone to pursue further studies and to play his rugby in France. The French could not believe their fortune and the Lyons five eighths was voted the player of the season as he revelled in the more laissez faire style in Europe.
Statistics Date of birth: 26 March 1949 Position: First five-eighth Matches: 30 Tests: 7 Test debut: 26 June 1971 v British & Irish Lions, Dunedin Final test: 10 February 1973 v France, Paris Province: Manawatu Test tries: 2 Test points: 6
