KEY POINTS:
He's up for the Super 14 final is Luke Burgess. Little wonder considering the Waratahs current halfback watched the sides' round-six meeting from his parents' pad in the Hunter Valley.
Burgess had been dropped from the Waratahs, siphoned off to play some club rugby after playing the first
four games of the season from the bench.
Now the 24-year-old is halfback and backline director for the Waratahs in tomorrow's Super 14 final against the Crusaders, and he's also become the hottest candidate to fill the same role for the Wallabies when new coach Robbie Deans announces that squad on Monday.
It is all a bit bizarre really, much like the rest of Burgess' rugby career.
Two years ago he was chosen for a Wallabies train-on squad on the strength of two games in the Super 14. He did not get any further with the national side, nor did he make any more headway with his career at the Brumbies where he spent four seasons as understudy to George Gregan.
"I played eight minutes of rugby in two games, that's all," Burgess recalled. "I would have stayed but they did not see me as being part of their pattern. They have a unique style of rugby there and the way I played did not fit in. In the end they told me to piss off."
Burgess turned to some action with Melbourne in the now defunct Australian club rugby championship before picking up a contract with the Waratahs and moving back to New South Wales for more game time.
That gypsy lifestyle often has Burgess waking up and wondering which city he is in. Today it's Christchurch.
"I've been starting since round seven and it's not been going too badly. I have just been focusing on getting the ball away quickly and doing my other bits and pieces," he said.
Burgess' return to the big-time coincided with the Blues' visit to Sydney, when the visitors were dispatched 37-16 in a match where the halfback's slick passing and sniping runs were a dominant factor. in the Waratahs' victory. That game also pushed him back into the Wallaby frame. one not overflowing with contenders.
"There is a lot of talk about it," Burgess confessed yesterday, "but I cannot focus on that."
Were he to get the Wallaby call-up on Monday, however, Burgess said it would be superb to be tutored by Deans.
"Everyone over there is excited by Deans coming, people are pumped up and can't wait to get him over. I just love the way he talks to his players at halftime. You watch him on TV and just the way he talks , he is very calm, he looks so settled and deliberate, he obviously understands the philosophy of coaching."
While Burgess is in full complimentary mode he adds, with a chuckle, Andrew Ellis to the list of halfbacks he admires. Justin Marshall and Byron Kelleher are there, as is Fourie du Preez. Top of the list are Joost van der Westhuizen and Nick Farr Jones.
"Playing sport for a living is terrific," he said. "Otherwise I would be studying and trying to pick up chicks in the library."
Burgess obviously comes from the irreverent strain of halfbacks, characters like those he listed who can strut and play at the same time. So there is no surprise when Burgess predicts the Waratahs will win tomorrow.
"I can't see it any other way. It is our time."
* LUKE BURGESS
Position: Scrumhalf
Physical: 1.79m, 89kg
Born: 20.08.83, Newcastle
Club: Eastern Suburbs
Provincial Caps: 14 [12 NSW, 2 ACT]
Provincial Points: 5 [1t]
Provincial Debut: 2005 v Hurricanes (ACT)
Super 12/14 Caps: 14 [12 Waratahs, 2 Brumbies]
Super 12/14 Points: 5 [1t]
Super 12/14 Debut: 2005 v Hurricanes (Brumbies)