APPARENTLY THE contacts of coaching mentor Chris Boyd came into play when fly-half Freddie Burns was called into the Highlanders squad to replace prop Luca Inch.
You might remember the 2012 England shellacking of the All Blacks at Twickenham, when Manu Tuilagi ran riot and food poisoning is said to have laid low many of the tourists. Well, that was Burns’s Test debut, a cameo off the bench. Beating the All Blacks in your maiden outing. Test rugby must have seemed easy.
“I made the mistake, when speaking at a dinner down here a few weeks ago, of saying that was a rugby highlight. It went down like a lead balloon. But I was fortunate to be a part of it,” says Burns, now in Dunedin.
Last June, Burns’s late drop-goal saw Tigers win the Premiership over Saracens in a tight final. This season also saw him with plenty of match-day action for Leicester as new signing Handré Pollard was working back from injury.
He explains the swift train of events that led him to go from Leicester in January to Dunedin in February: “It came out of the blue. If (Erik) Ten Hag had called me to ask ‘Do you fancy playing for Man United?’ the answer would be yes, but it doesn’t mean a contract will be on the table.”
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Rugby World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Rugby World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
As the domestic season comes to a close, we take a look across the English pyramid to see which community clubs have tasted success
Japan's landmark
The Brave Blossoms are preparing for an historic first home Test against England. Rich Freeman explains why it means so much
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ...BRING RUGBY TO INDIA'S STREETS
RW finds out why Kolkata kids are picking up the oval ball in Quins shirts
Anthony Brooke
Mixed ability sport might not exist but for this multiple award-winner
SCOTT ROBERTSON
The new All Blacks head coach awaits the arrival of England on tour before embarking on a first Rugby Championship. We tune into his method and mindset...
SYDNEY GREGSON
The England centre hopes Saracens can right past wrongs in the play-offs
STATE OF PLAY
Uncertain futures on the SVNS series, funding issues and the small matter of the Olympics - former captain TOM MITCHELL looks at what's going on with Team GB
MAX POWER
His jump to senior standout has impressed many in Scotland and Glasgow's MAX WILLIAMSON has shown there is a way forward
KWAGGA SMITH
The Springboks have a point to prove against Ireland, says the flanker
Nash smashes on!
A BREAKTHROUGH STAR IN THE SIX NATIONS, MUNSTER WINGER CALVIN NASH HAS DONE IT THE HARD WAY