Wednesday 5 August 2015 08:33, UK
England head coach Stuart Lancaster says Sam Burgess has “special” qualities but has not yet decided whether to include the league convert in his final World Cup squad.
Burgess has been playing union for Bath for less than a year, but he has been part of England’s World Cup training squad which will be cut from 45 to 36 on Friday. Lancaster must make a final cut of five, and the 31 remaining will be his World Cup squad.
England and Bath seem to be at odds as to Burgess’s best position – Lancaster wants him to play in midfield, while Bath see his future as a flanker.
Lancaster hinted that he would give Burgess game-time in the first warm-up match against France at Twickenham on August 15, which suggests the Bath man will survive Friday's cull.
The England coach admits it will be a tough decision on whether or not to include the least experienced – but potentially most talented – centre in his final squad.
“Obviously when a guy hasn’t played as much as the others…I wouldn’t say it’s a gamble, but we’ll have to wait and see,” Lancaster told Sky Sports News HQ.
“All we are doing is considering him as an option. We’ve got to wait and see whether he can deliver. Training has given us a good indication and the games might do that as well.
“He’s obviously got some special qualities that we’ve seen in operation for Bath.”
Burgess says he is continuing to improve and learn every day he is with the training squad, and admits it will be tough to take if he is left out of the final World Cup squad.
“I think I’m improving daily. I’ve got a lot of good guys helping me out as well,” Burgess said. “It’s making my learning easier. It’s going to be tough on those who get the tap. I guess that’s the nature of the game.
“Everyone understands it. Everyone is putting their best foot forward and giving it their best shot. Within that we are working well as a team.”
