Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Matthew Burke's famous 80m try from 1996

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Matthew Burke's famous 80m try from 1996

Wallaby legend Matt Burke will be returning to the NSW Waratahs, this time in the role of kicking coach for the 2009 season. Hearing the news of Burke’s involvement in Australian rugby again made us think back to some of his great career highlights, and there were few better than this superb try he scored back in 1996.

There is little doubt that Burke is one of the most successful and respected international fullbacks of recent times, notching up the second highest all time points tally for an Australian Test player.

For the Waratahs he is the highest ever points scorer and the second highest capped player, with his illustrious Sydney career spanning from 1992 to 2004.

After an unfortunate fall out with their coaching staff in 2004 though, he left for the UK and had three enjoyable seasons with the Newcastle Falcons. Burke announced his retirement in May of this year after failing to properly recover from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee after an injury he picked up in October.

So he’s now returned to his beloved Waratahs, and will be the specialist kicking coach in the hope of contributing once again to the team he served so well for twelve years.

"It's good to be asked to be involved and hopefully I can add to some of the kicking skills and the back three work," said Burke.

Waratahs Head Coach Chris Hickey said the acquisition of Burke addresses a key element to the game.

“Kicking whether it be for points, territory or tactical reasons needs to be practiced and I can’t think of many better in the field than Matt Burke,” said Hickey.

“Matt will bring a great deal to the Waratahs both on and off the field.”

So while the future looks rosy for Burke once again, we'll take a look back at one of the Wallaby’s greatest ever Bledisloe Cup tries.

At Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in July of ’96, Burke went from a standing start to beat two tackles before accelerating away to beat Lomu, dummy Cullen, and put the foot down to score an unforgettable Tri Nations try.

The great moment will be etched in the memory banks and be forever synonymous with the Australian and Waratah legend that is Matthew Burke.

Time: 00:40
Final Score: 32-25 to New Zealand

maybe under his guidance kurtley beale wont hit the post so many goddam times!

By Anonymous, at August 20, 2008 11:20 pm
Maybe Kurtley was aiming for the posts?

Nah seriously, love this try. Seen it a few times over the years, which makes you realise what a classic it is.

Certainly better than when he scored and bust his collarbone.. in 98 I think. Ouch.

By Anonymous, at August 20, 2008 11:33 pm
Great try and very demoralizing for NZ at the time as it came from nowhere and although there are only two missed tackles, the defensive errors by Cullen and Lomu must have turned the screw.

By Disco, at August 21, 2008 12:10 am
Great try but I have to ask, what was Cullen doing? He jumped up like a startled cat!

By Anonymous, at August 21, 2008 12:47 am
Gees gone of the days when the New Zealand commentary yell out when the opposition get a try they mostly just moan or get Murray Mexted to say something dumb to calm the nerves.

By Anonymous, at August 21, 2008 1:11 am
That's how to sell a dummy! I bet Cullen's still got the receipt!

By Anonymous, at August 21, 2008 1:37 am
just triggered a memory of the first waratahs game i ever went to about 9 or 10 yrs ago..... burke made an awesome break down the field beating defenders & only had to run about 40m to score but he somehow managed to bobble the ball and lose it behind him.. he then caught the ball behind his back whilst in full flight & then brought it back around the other side of his body to catch it again and dive over for the try.. haha it was impressive! anyone remember this? would make an awesome addition to the rugbydump website..

By Anonymous, at August 21, 2008 2:57 am
A very Mortlock type of run. Lomu stays off Burke as he thinks the cover coming across is going to get him, but Burke's got too much toe over the first ten. Cullen knows the Oz winger's there, buys the dummy and tries to spread himself as high and wide as he can to cover the pass that never came ... and that's all she wrote. Like the first NZ try last weekend a glitch by the attacking backline can actually open up the defence. If you recover quickly and make the right decision the gap is there.

By Anonymous, at August 21, 2008 3:01 am
A world class try from a world class player.

By Anonymous, at August 21, 2008 12:01 pm
Great try. But Lomu could never tactically defend so it wasnt a surprise he got through.

By finmac, at August 21, 2008 4:27 pm
No surprise there by Lomu.
However, oh boy, Cullen looked good on that one, didn't he?

=D

Good try though!

By Anonymous, at August 22, 2008 5:09 am
Sure, Jonah wasn't the greatest defender but boy do I miss seeing him run with the ball in hand ... something special!

By Anonymous, at August 22, 2008 7:55 am
Matt Burke together Cullen are the best fullback of the last ten years!

By Anonymous, at August 24, 2008 11:51 pm
what is that song in the background
the sam song in
matt dunnings drop goal
jonah lomu documentary and other clips
desparate to know please

By rosh, at February 22, 2010 5:43 pm