Bath coach Mike Ford hints Sam Burgess' future could be in back row
Last Updated: 11/04/15 12:23pm
Bath coach Mike Ford hinted Sam Burgess' future could lay in the back row after the former rugby league man made his first back row start in the 29-19 bonus-point victory at Newcastle.
Burgess has played predominantly in the centre since signing from South Sydney but was switched to flanker on Friday night and played for an hour as Bath moved up to second in the Aviva Premiership.
Ford said: "We are pleased with the way Sam played in the back row. He's not the finished article by any means but he will get better and we will probably look to keep playing him in the back row."
Ford was also pleased with his side's response to their European Champions Cup exit at the hand of Leinster last weekend.
"It was a very good night in terms of the outcome and the five points and getting back to second place," he said.
"It was a very emotional Saturday. The boys were very drained and disappointed to come out on the wrong end of the European result. We came back in this week and trained hard for this game and we wanted to play fast, the boys showed a real cutting edge tonight.
"We cut them open at times. Anthony Watson was superb as was George Ford and Semesa Rokoduguni was outstanding."
Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: "I thought they won in a bit of a canter and I'm a bit disappointed to be honest.
"We started slowly as we have done for most of the season and just before half-time we gave away a soft try and that was a killer moment.
"Our try-scoring seems to have dried up and the softness of the tries we conceded is what is really concerning me. We have a tendency to switch off and we have to address that."
