Get Manu Tuilagi outside me and watch Tigers go!
Sidelined for two months after breaking his jaw in early October, Burns, who won the last of five England caps against New Zealand in 2014, is back in the selection mix as one of a number of playmakers handed a clean slate following the World Cup.
That list includes George Ford, Owen Farrell, Danny Cipriani and the injured Henry Slade. But boosted by the security of a new two-year contract, Burns told The Rugby Paper: “I had a couple of games next to Manu on the summer tour of New Zealand, but we only got two or three games together at Tigers after that so it’s great he’s re-signed.
“Manu’s been training and is champing at the bit. He’s not going full at it just yet but the whole squad gets a lift when you see a guy like him coming out on the pitch. It’ll be great, hopefully, to get some good game time with him in the New Year.”
Burns, who is due back in full training this week, says of his England prospects: “It’s a bit of a cop-out answer, but I’ve got a lot on my plate getting back into the Leicester team because Owen Williams and Tommy Bell have both done very well this year.
“I was happy with how I performed in pre-season, though, so hopefully I’ll get an opportunity and be able to take it, but it’s a battle I’m going to relish.
“It’s nice to hear from Eddie Jones that everyone starts on zero and it gives everyone a fresh opportunity to impress, either to be retained from the World Cup squad or to get back in, but I’ll just concentrate on the Tigers side of things at the minute.
“We’ve got a slightly new philosophy with the way (new head coach) Aaron Mauger wants to play, which suits my style, so I’ll just try to give a good account of myself here and if the phone call comes from England it will be very well received.”
Burns, 25, had no second thoughts about extending his Tigers stay, explaining: “With that broken jaw and my season starting late you get a little bit on edge contract-wise, so when the offer came it was a no-brainer.
“I’ve had to work hard here, nothing was given to me, and I’m happy with how I came through last season. I contributed towards some massive results for the team and when you commit to working hard and start getting rewards, it’s very satisfying.
“Leicester’s a place that’s grown on me and with Aaron Mauger and Scott Hansen coming in, with the coaches we already had like Richard Cockerill, I think we’ve got a real chance of adding something to the rich history of this great club.
“It’s great that guys like Ed Slater and Ben Youngs have also re-signed because, along with Manu, it’s a core of English players that are vital to us.”
Burns, meanwhile, believes that top level English rugby would benefit hugely if the Premiership were switched to the summer.
Better conditions, he argues, would lead to more running rugby, bigger crowds and a more enjoyable atmosphere at matches.
With the season structure currently up for discussion, Burns said: “The purists will say they like the mud and scrums, but I just think summer rugby would be perfect as a spectacle and we’d see a bit more running rugby.
“If you asked someone like Dan Cole, a tight-five forward, he would probably say no, keep it in the winter where you can squeeze the life out of everyone.
“But, for me, you can’t beat those summer evenings when the sun’s setting and the barbecues are out.
“You could leave the Six Nations where it is and tweak things around it, but running rugby on firm surfaces would be a great move for the sport.
“It would bring things into line with the Southern Hemisphere which would benefit England.”
NEALE HARVEY
