Burgess: 'Monkey off the back'
Rugby League convert Sam Burgess made his highly-anticipated Rugby Union debut for Bath in a comprehensive 25-6 victory over Harlequins in the English Premiership on Friday.
Burgess had not played since fracturing his cheekbone and eye socket during his final appearance for South Sydney in their 30-6 NRL Grand Final victory over Canterbury Bulldogs in October.
But he was named on the bench for Bath, for whom he was signed a three-year deal worth an estimated £270,000 with a tilt at England's World Cup squad in mind.
And the player, capped 28 times as a forward for England in Rugby League, came on in the 63rd minute as a centre alongside fellow 
League convert Kyle Eastmond.
"The superhuman from Rugby League given a blast!" was how commentator Nick Mullins heralded Burgess' arrival.
Immediately from an attacking scrum, Irish scrumhalf Peter Stringer passed straight to Burgess on a crash ball, three men required to take him down as he laid the ball back perfectly.
The 25-year-old Rugby League convert was not expected to make his Bath bow until the end of December, but he had asked his coaches to be integrated into the squad more quickly.
Burgess has apparently spent his time at Bath "asking 1,000 questions", according to coach Mike Ford, and he displayed his technical ability with a sharp clear-out of England scrum-half Danny Care at a ruck as the game ran out of steam.
"To be honest, I was a little bit nervous on the bench, but I really enjoyed it," Burgess said.
"The monkey's off the back, I guess, and now I can just focus and try and knuckle down and improve my game with the team.
"I've had quite a lot of practice over the last few weeks, so it was nice to get out on the pitch.
"I went out and tried to enjoy it and I certainly did. I've got a lot to learn still but I'm really enjoying it."
Ford praised Eastmond for guiding Burgess through his debut.
"It was important Kyle stayed on when Sam came on," Ford said.
"Through training all week, Sam's been asking 1,000 questions and Kyle's been answering them.
"It's basically 'follow me and I'll give you the ball when I can', so it's important that Sam felt at home with someone on the same wavelength."
Source: AFP
Sam Burgess Rugby Union debut
