Sam Burgess makes long-awaited England debut at centre
Wednesday 12 August 2015 11:29, UK
Sam Burgess will make his international debut at centre when England face France in a World Cup warm-up live on Sky Sports 1 on Saturday.
Live International Rugby Union
Burgess has been in the wider England training squad since he made the move from rugby league, but until now has not yet featured in Stuart Lancaster's team.
That will change this weekend with the convert slotting into the midfield at inside centre alongside Exeter's Henry Slade who wears the No 13 jersey. Like Burgess, Slade is uncapped for England but has previously featured for the Saxons.
Much has been made about Burgess' move to union as the former Rabbitohs player fought to find a place in Lancaster's plans and he survived the first cut last week that saw Chris Ashton among those dropped from the initial party.
The main talking point has been Burgess' position in the team. He has featured for Bath at both centre and flank, but Lancaster revealed last month that he would only consider Burgess in the midfield.
Meanwhile Owen Farrell has been handed the fly-half duties on Saturday, with Danny Cipriani taking a place on the bench. There is no spot in the 23 for Bath's George Ford in what is the first of England's three World Cup warm-up matches - they face France in Paris (Aug 22) and Ireland at Twickenham (Sept 5).
Farrell is partnered by Richard Wigglesworth in the half-backs, with Wigglesworth making his 22nd appearance for England.
Anthony Watson and Jonny May take their places on the wing, and joining them in the back three is full-back Alex Goode.
Return
There is a return to the team for Ben Morgan, who suffered a broken leg while playing for Gloucester against Saracens at the beginning of the year. Morgan's last match for Lancaster's England came against Australia at Twickenham in November, but the big No 8 slots straight back into the team for the French encounter.
Morgan is joined in the back row by Calum Clark in the No 7 jersey as well as Tom Wood, who has been handed the captaincy with Chris Robshaw not in the team.
Rob Webber packs down between Mako Vunipola and Kieran Brookes in the front row, while Geroge Kruis of Saracens and Geoff Parling complete the tight five.
Billy Twelvetrees has been named on the bench, and will likely be given a fair amount of game time as he fights with Burgess and Slade for a midfield spot in the final World Cup squad.
There could be a debut for Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who is one of three front rowers on the bench along with Alex Corbisiero and David Wilson.
Dave Attwood is the reserve lock, and will win his 21st cap should he be called into action, while Quins' Danny Care and Wasps' James Haskell complete the bench.
England play France twice over the next two weeks, with a match-up in Paris following this weekend’s Twickenham encounter, before hosting Ireland two weeks before the World Cup kicks off.
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Sam Burgess, 11 Jonny May, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Rob Webber, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 George Kruis, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 Tom Wood (c), 7 Calum Clark, 8 Ben Morgan.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Alex Corbisiero, 18 David Wilson, 19 Dave Attwood, 20 James Haskell, 21 Danny Care, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
