logo
Burke feels force of destiny in Scotland debut

Burke feels force of destiny in Scotland debut

Yahoo15-07-2025
New Zealand-born Fergus Burke feels like "it was meant to be" after making his Scotland debut in the southern hemisphere.
The 25-year-old Saracens fly-half was in Gregor Townsend's squad for this year's Six Nations, but it was not until Friday's 29-14 summer tour defeat by Fiji that he earned his first cap.
Advertisement
It could be quickly followed by a second against Samoa at Eden Park in the land of his birth on Friday and, not surprisingly, he has "a fair few people" chasing him for tickets.
"I've had a few messages from people I haven't heard from for a while, but I'll hopefully get a good contingent of support there and it'll be cool," Burke said.
"It is a weird one. Obviously I was in for the Six Nations but didn't get a crack, so it is almost like this was the way it was meant to be when I get my first opportunity so my family could actually be here."
Darcy Graham was sent off after a second yellow card while Ewan Ashman was also sin-binned in Suva and Burke thinks the Scots can perform better against Samoa if they improve their discipline.
Advertisement
"I think in parts of that Fiji game we showed how good we are as a team when we get it right, but we got our discipline wrong and ended up making a lot more tackles than we needed to," he said.
Burke expects "a similar challenge to Fiji" but hopes to spend less time on defence against Samoa.
"I think they are going to be a little more structured than Fiji was - Fiji was quite loose and the looser the game got, the better they got," he suggested.
"I've got a feeling Samoa are going to kick a little bit more. We know how important this game is and we are pretty focused on getting it right."
Advertisement
Burke ended the game playing at full-back after Adam Hastings' introduction.
"I wasn't expecting that, but I played a little bit of full-back when I was still in New Zealand at Crusaders, so I felt reasonably comfortable there and I enjoyed playing with Adam as well," he added.
"I thought it was good when he came on and we probably got our most attacking in that last 10 minutes with ball in hand."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ivan Cleary cops heat over Penrith trainer furore as Bulldogs player's act emerges
Ivan Cleary cops heat over Penrith trainer furore as Bulldogs player's act emerges

Yahoo

time42 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Ivan Cleary cops heat over Penrith trainer furore as Bulldogs player's act emerges

Ivan Cleary has copped some backlash for a nonchalant response to the Penrith Panthers trainer furore as Gold Coast Titans kicker Jayden Campbell was distracted during an important kick. It comes as Bailey Hayward's moment during a Tigers penalty has come under scrutiny. The fallout to the Panthers trainer debacle has continued with fans waiting to see how the NRL reacts on Monday to the incident. The Titans had just scored and Campbell was lining up his conversion with the ambition of pushing the score beyond a penalty goal or two-point drop goal. Although Panthers trainer Corey Bocking darted across the field and in his line of sight. Much was made of the incident with Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss calling out the trainer as boos rang around the stadium. "That is disgraceful, that is absolutely disgraceful," Andrew Voss said. Campbell missed the conversion, before throwing his kicking tee in disgust. However, he soon chased down the kicking tee and appeared to apologise to the ball kid in a classy move. The Titans ended up losing the game with Nathan Cleary icing a two-point field goal to take it to golden point. And Blaize Talagi scored in extra time to seal the victory for the Panthers and move them within a point of the Warriors in fourth. However, coach Cleary has now come under scrutiny for his response to the debacle. "I didn't see was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We had a sub and I changed it at the last minute," Cleary said after the game. "He was trying to communicate with the bench for a late change. It was an honest mistake. He apologised straight away. Gold Coast Titans fans may not feel like an apology is enough with the Panthers finding themselves in yet another trainer controversy this year. And speaking on Monday morning, NRL commentator Voss has called out Cleary for his response to the situation. Voss feels Cleary and the Panthers were too quick to dismiss the incident with the fans rightfully upset. "I didn't see it, that just infuriates me that first line. To say I didn't see it, of course you saw it. C'mon, we replayed it six times. The game was stopped. That just throws petrol on the fire," Voss added on SEN Radio about Cleary's comments. When asked if it could have been an accident from the trainer Voss said: "Yes, but I can't accept that." Bailey Hayward called out for Tigers moment Only a day after the Penrith trainer was slammed for distracting the kicker and the rules being dug up, Bulldogs sub Hayward could have also been at the centre of attention. Voss called out the Bulldogs star as Adam Doueihi was lining up a penalty kick. The Tigers were awarded a penalty in front of goal after Stephen Crichton collected Taylan May high, but remained on the field, with the Wests Tigers star leaving for a category one HIA. And Doueihi lined-up the conversion to push the lead out against the Bulldogs. Although cameras picked up Hayward quite animated as he waved his arms in front of the goal. This could have been deemed another offence and if Doueihi had missed the penalty, the referee would have been within his rights to award the Tigers kicker another opportunity. And Voss called out Hayward following the drama that had unfolded only 24 hours earlier in the Panthers and Titans game. "Even Bailey Hayward yesterday, was waving his arms around in front of a Doueihi kick. And I thought, you goose. What are you doing?" Voss said following the Panthers debacle. Andrew Voss calls for answers from NRL Voss admitted the NRL doesn't have a clear rule on what to do if the trainer does impede a goal kick. But it doesn't excuse the Panthers from the incident. "If a defending player waves their arms in front of a kicker and he misses, the referee is obliged to let the kicker have another shot. But no where does it cover a trainer doing that. An external party to the players. There is no rule. Liam Kennedy would have had to make up a rule in the spirit of the game on the spot," Voss added. "We can bulletproof ourselves for first things first, what we do is what action?"

'McGlynn is a maestro' - your views on empathic Falkirk win
'McGlynn is a maestro' - your views on empathic Falkirk win

Yahoo

time44 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

'McGlynn is a maestro' - your views on empathic Falkirk win

We asked you for your views following Falkirk's emphatic, seven-goal season opener against Brechin City in the Premier Sports Cup. Here's what some of you said: Nathan: Sunshine and seven goals, can't ask for more. Thought we put in a professional performance and could've been more. New signings Neilson and Cartwright both impressed me as well. John: Falkirk flying, brilliant. Can't believe young Ross MacIver doesn't get a start, he's top drawer. Jim: Annihilation. McGlynn is a maestro. Falkirk will be no pushover in the Premiership. James: Professional display. Showed respect to Brechin by playing major players. Played good football. Great team effort. Dave: Good all round professional performance. Still early in the season but impressed by the attacking intent. John: Could be in for a good season...

All Blacks select 4 uncapped players in a squad beset by injuries for the Rugby Championship
All Blacks select 4 uncapped players in a squad beset by injuries for the Rugby Championship

Washington Post

timean hour ago

  • Washington Post

All Blacks select 4 uncapped players in a squad beset by injuries for the Rugby Championship

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has selected loose-forward Simon Parker among four uncapped players in his extended squad for the Rugby Championship which begins for New Zealand with back-to-back matches in Argentina. The 22-year-old Chiefs backrower, who is 197-centimeters (6'4') and weighs 119 kilograms (262 pounds) adds size and physicality to the All Blacks pack ahead of impending matches against Rugby World Cup champion South Africa .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store