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Video - Freddie Burns' shocking blunder costs Bath match

Freddie Burns (Getty Images)

A shock blunder by fullback Freddie Burns has cost Bath their opening game of the European Champions Cup against Toulouse at the Rec, and leaves his side facing a battle for survival in Europe.

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Bath were trailing Toulouse by 20 points to 22 when Burns – playing out of position – broke through the defence and was left with what looked like a simply canter under the posts.

A smiling Burns – carrying the ball in one-hand – slowed to a jog and on going to place the ball has it kicked out of his grip by Maxime Meddard. Burns crumples to the ground, his head in his hands.

Todd Blackadder subbed him off just minutes later.

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Comments on RugbyPass

P
PM 10 minutes ago
Springboks roll out heavy-hitters for Rugby Championship opener

This was probably the strongest ever 36 Rassie has had and this is a very strong 23, whilst also holding back Thomas Du Toit, Snyman, Wiese, Pollard, De Allende & Kolbe. That will be an incredible squad of 23 when he plays his strongest team - they are stacked with talent throughout.

5 Go to comments
P
PM 12 minutes ago
Springboks roll out heavy-hitters for Rugby Championship opener

Don’t forget about Thomas Du Toit, it’s a crazy level of talent Rassie has at his disposal and at some stage he will name his 1st choice 23 that will be potentially his strongest team to date. They remain the team for everyone to beat.

5 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 20 minutes ago
Springboks roll out heavy-hitters for Rugby Championship opener

Cool team. Love the bench. Esterhuisen covering flank.

5 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 25 minutes ago
The growing exodus of Australasia’s biggest rugby athletes must stop

1000%

11 Go to comments
C
Chris929 28 minutes ago
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe reacts to winning RugbyPass Top 50 crown

But its mostly, 95 per cent based on previous form and that reputation. She hasnt played for the black ferns for 3 years. Shes come back and played 3 tests(?) - one against the usa who are 10th in the world, one against australia who are 6th and one against canada(number 2)-and against canada she didnt have much impact /get much ball. How can someone be chosen as the world number 1 player on that basis? its purely on historical form and reputation. You may as well have picked sophie de goede as the number 1 who was left off this list as shes hardly played due to injury.

3 Go to comments
J
J Marc 31 minutes ago
Top 50 Women's Rugby Players of 2025: Who made the cut? | RugbyPass

Bah, as a french, Bernadou is not the first choice for tighthead in France but she is in the ranking instead of Kalfahoui who isn't… Bourgeois is maybe one of the best kicker at 22, but not one of the best fullback. After that, Bourdon is the best french player and maybe the best 9 in the world, but in a ranking it's hard to say if a winger is best than a halfback or a prop…. A ranking by number would have been more accurate…

24 Go to comments
P
POHM 48 minutes ago
'Won't be a problem': Former teammate weighs in on Mo’unga return

Why do you post the same rubbish under different names Jacko, your jealously of the Crusaders is endearing, i love the way Ritchie lives rent free in your head.

Thankfully we now have an All Black coach that knows how to win, /unlike Foster the fluster.



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29 Go to comments
P
PLUM BOY 51 minutes ago
Top 50 Women's Rugby Players of 2025: Who made the cut? | RugbyPass

😦 💔

24 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 55 minutes ago
How group of spoiled Racing 92 players drove Stuart Lancaster 'insane'

Yes, another new provincial coach tried that move too! Worked so well they both had to find new employment.

72 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 58 minutes ago
Fissler Confidential: Feyi-Waboso latest target of rebel comp

🤦‍♂️😂

25 Go to comments
M
Mitch 1 hour ago
'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

I was seconds away from sending Tony an email (I’m a reader not a member of ‘the roar’) after Hamish's article that went up last Tuesday questioning his value to the site as a columnist but suspected I’d get a response of “if you don’t like it, don’t read it”.

Fair dinukm, Hamish Bidwell could win a Ferrari as a result of his raffle ticket being the winning one and the first thing he’d do is complain about how red it is.



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364 Go to comments
P
POHM 1 hour ago
'There's no future': Former All Blacks pick their halfback for first Argentina Test

what do you mean every time they go head to head Ritchie wins hands down, or are you like Trumps first press secretary, who when confronted with the lie about the crowd at inauguration, said ‘ we have alternative facts”.

Much as you might hate it and hate all the titles the Crusaders win, unlike you choker Chiefs, Razor will have him back at 10 in a flash a BB will probably be watching from the stands.



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21 Go to comments
B
BleedRed&Black 1 hour ago
Ex-All Black coach Steve Hansen's verdict on Richie Mo'unga's new deal

For everyone interested in real stats, not the random and self-serving samples some have come up with, here's a comparison of 2019-2023 for AB 10's against top 6 and top 3 opponents. This was the era when Hansen was in decline, then Foster was in charge, and it was a choice between Barrett, McKenzie and the man neither of them wanted, Richie Mo'unga, but had finally started to regularly pick for NZ at 10 against top 6 and top 3 opponents.

Damien McKenzie, 2019-2023. 3 from 3 against top 6, 0 from 0 against Top 3. In those five years Hansen couldn’t pick him [he had only picked him once between 2016 and 2018 anyway] and Foster only picked him three times, and never against a Top 3. So he is irrelevant to this discussion.



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41 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
Fissler Confidential: Feyi-Waboso latest target of rebel comp

It’s actually not a policy with the IRFU. That’s an important distinction to make.

Outside of Sexton - who was nominated for World Player of Year while he was playing club rugby in France - Geordan Murphy spent his career at the tigers while being nailed on for Ireland and consistently one of the best 15’s in the NH. Eoin Reddan became first choice later in his career and was a superb tempo 9 while also winning European cups with wasps. Even my old house mate Johnny O’Connor was winning triple crowns with Ireland while also playing at wasps.



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25 Go to comments
C
CN 1 hour ago
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe reacts to winning RugbyPass Top 50 crown

It’s a fair point, it’s always going to be controversial though because lists like these are subjective, it depends are your criteria. To be classed a a great player you are not going to be judged on what you have done over the last few games, it has to be measured over a number of games against a variety of opponents. I just feel PWW has that in the bank

3 Go to comments
S
Sam 1 hour ago
Springboks roll out heavy-hitters for Rugby Championship opener

Hmm, good time, generally speaking.

Not too crazy about Van Staden & Bongi in the 23. And I’d rather have DW starting, instead of Fassi.



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5 Go to comments
J
Jacque 1 hour ago
Springboks roll out heavy-hitters for Rugby Championship opener

You roll out THAT team without Pollard, De Allende, Kolbe, Snyman & Wiese, then you have “Fans” doubting the depth the Boks are building

5 Go to comments
C
CN 1 hour ago
Top 50 Women's Rugby Players of 2025: Who made the cut? | RugbyPass

You may be disappointed

24 Go to comments
C
Chris929 1 hour ago
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe reacts to winning RugbyPass Top 50 crown

Woodmans a great player but shes not been playing 15s since the last world cup and has only played about 3 tests on her return. Rugbypass then make her the number 1 player which is a bit absurd-you would pick someone who has been outstanding past couple of years. She did nothing against canada the only decent team she has played against on her return. This isnt me saying shes not a fantastic player-just that its absurd to make her the number 1 based on so few games.

3 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
How group of spoiled Racing 92 players drove Stuart Lancaster 'insane'

Very much so. It’s their current level at the moment.

It’s more the bigger picture, Ed. A concept you couldn’t even pretend to understand.



...

72 Go to comments
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The growing exodus of Australasia’s biggest rugby athletes must stop