Burrell again in right place at the right time

TWO tries in as many games suggests Test match rugby is all a little too simple for England centre Luther Burrell.
By Dave Craven
Published 10th Feb 2014, 07:10 BST
NICE START: England's Luther Burrell touches down to score the first try of the game at Murrayfield. Picture: Dave Thompson.NICE START: England's Luther Burrell touches down to score the first try of the game at Murrayfield. Picture: Dave Thompson.
NICE START: England's Luther Burrell touches down to score the first try of the game at Murrayfield. Picture: Dave Thompson.

“I wouldn’t say that,” smiled the former Leeds Carnegie player after he followed up his debut in France with another impressive scoring display at Murrayfield.

“I’ve been fortunate to be on the end of some fantastic play. Last week, Billy (Vunipola) put me through a space and this week Danny Care’s done the same. At the moment, I’m popping up at the right time.”

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His 15th-minute effort during the 20-0 Calcutta Cup win looked like it had come straight off the training park, Burrell picking a perfect angle to hit fellow Yorkshireman Care’s flat pass after the scrum-half crabbed infield from a maul.

But, speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Post, the Northampton Saints player insisted: “We’d not actually done that one. We’ve got one similar but Owen (Farrell) called that off the cuff. I just managed to hit a line and Danny put me through what seemed to be a big space.”

At 26, Burrell is a late-comer to the international scene but he is certainly a quick learner.

He was denied a second try on Saturday only by a last-ditch tackle by Sean Lamont, made one scything break, always looked powerful in possession and even gave out some verbals to debutant Chris Fusaro after one fierce tackle on the Glasgow flanker.

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Burrell’s biggest test, however, will come when he faces the legendary Brian O’Driscoll as grand slam-chasing Ireland arrive at HQ a week Saturday.

It is a challenge he is relishing as he admitted: “It’ll be fantastic for me if I get selected. I played against those boys in the Heineken Cup for Northampton when Leinster came to our place and put 40 points on us so I know what they are about.

“They – O’Driscoll, Paul O’Connell, people like that – are huge personalities in the game and it’ll be a huge honour if I get to face them at Twickenham.”

On the evidence so far, though, this burgeoning centre from Huddersfield looks capable of making his very own mark on the distinguished British Lion.

Related topics:BillyEnglandFranceMurrayfield