RugbyRebels

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... gedey0vydo

Goldington Road finishing school legend leaving the game . Worked very hard to come back from being rejected by Tigers' academy and then go on to have a pretty decent career, all things told. Such a good player when he was on top form.

Puja

Never quite fulfilled his potential, I always thought whilst he was very good there was just another step for him that would raise his game up proper international level.

Quite frankly I'd take him as a squad depth player at Tigers next season give our lack of flyhalf cover currently.

Part of the legendary Wigglesworth, Launchbury and Twelve trees holy trinity of names.

Pulborough's finest!

A missed opportunity.
Loved watching him play - the rugby playing definition of ‘from the sublime to the ridiculous’. Oh for one more season at GR. imagine a Booj - 12T centre partnership *insert numerous aubergine emojis here*

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2024 7:47 pm Never quite fulfilled his potential, I always thought whilst he was very good there was just another step for him that would raise his game up proper international level.

Quite frankly I'd take him as a squad depth player at Tigers next season give our lack of flyhalf cover currently.

too young, surely?

Did England get the best out of him? Hands as good as his should have produced more with the right backing/coaching. Worse players than him have done well at centre for Wales and Scotland, for example.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Jun 28, 2024 7:47 pm Never quite fulfilled his potential, I always thought whilst he was very good there was just another step for him that would raise his game up proper international level.

Quite frankly I'd take him as a squad depth player at Tigers next season give our lack of flyhalf cover currently.

He was just off top level. Seemed to have all the qualities but a lack of composure was a real weakness i thought.

Pity as he looked very good at times.

Billy's downsides were never about his skills with a rugby ball, all about the psychology.
Capable of throwing a 40m double miss-pass for the winger to take at pace and without breaking stride, wide of the defence one minute, to then fail to hit a barn door with a 3m pass the next.

He's someone I just wish a decent sports psychologist had got their hands on as a teenager, but lived in a time where that would still have been an admission of failure and source of ridicule.