The Highlanders first five has revealed he has not completely enjoyed his experience in the South, spoken of his disappointment in Super Rugby crowds, and questioned whether the New Zealand clubs could cope with the physicality of the top European teams.
Burns might also be a proud Englishman who played test rugby for his country but, no, he did not get particularly excited about "chucking a crown on some old bloke’s head".
It has not quite been the season the experienced Burns was anticipating when he signed a one-year deal with the Highlanders.
He was sidelined by a foot injury for six weeks and his new team has slumped to 10th with three wins from 10 games. Hence, his reply when asked if he had got what he hoped out of his time in Dunedin.
"No, is probably the honest answer. Just because when you get injured, and you’re not contributing . . . you come down here to play games and win games, so that’s been tough.
"If I’m being honest, has it been the experience I thought it would be? Obviously not.
"But it’s still been a positive experience for me to come down here and see how things work and play in a different style of rugby.
"It’s not over yet either. We’ve still games and a lot to play for."
Burns’ long years with the Leicester club give him some authority to talk about how Super Rugby compares with the Premiership back home.
He felt Super Rugby offered an exciting product with plenty of tries but found the level of support lower than expected.
"I’ve been disappointed with attendances. I know the geography of the competition makes it harder. It’s not like in England where you can just hop in the car and drive for a couple of hours and probably be at most Premiership grounds.
"I guess that element took me by surprise. I thought there’d be a few more in attendance at stadiums.
"But it’s different. It’s more open. And you saw at the weekend, you turn the ball over in Super Rugby and it’s under your posts, where in England it’s a bit slower."
There were plenty of talented players in Super Rugby but the style of rugby was quite different to the English club game, which was more tactical, Burns said.
Some sort of cross-hemisphere club competition is set to start in 2025 and that may be the first real opportunity to see how teams from opposite sides of the world compare.
"I’m not sure whether the sort of northern hemisphere arm wrestle kind of game, or the physicality of the game, is something the Super Rugby teams could live with. Just that constant driving, constant scrumming game."
That does not sound like the sort of rugby that excites New Zealand rugby fans.
But it all came down to winning, Burns said.
"I played in a Leicester team last year that won the league and got criticised for kicking the ball too much. But ask any Leicester fans and they would have loved the fact we were kicking because we were winning games."
Burns felt rugby could benefit from opening itself up more, much as smash hit documentary series Drive To Survive generated unprecedented interest in Formula 1.
"People look at rugby and think it’s sort of 15 pretty dull blokes trying to run into each other and beat each other up, and there is so much more to it."
When the Highlanders’ season ends, Burns will return to England for a few months.
He does not want to reveal the club yet but he has signed a deal to play in Japan next year.
"I’m 33 on Saturday and I think with my age, and with the World Cup, an opportunity for me to go and see my career out and earn the money I wouldn’t have earned otherwise, and have that life experience, is too good to turn down."
