Will Greenwood questions the versatility of Sam Burgess on the England bench
Tuesday 15 September 2015 06:31, UK
Will Greenwood has concerns about the versatility of the England bench for their opening Rugby World Cup clash against Fiji.
England have named an unchanged starting XV for their opener against Fiji, with Ben Morgan preferred over Billy Vunipola at No 8.
There is one change on the bench, where Rob Webber comes in for Jamie George, but otherwise it is the same 23 that beat Ireland in their last warm-up match.
Keeping his place on the England bench is Sam Burgess, who won only his second cap in their 21-13 win over Ireland. The former league star has split opinion on whether he should have been included in the squad and while Greenwood recognises his impact, he is not sure that the bench has the right mix to cover the bases.
"I did not think that Sam Burgess and Owen Farrell would be on the same bench," said Greenwood on the Rugby Club Wrap.
"As a straight replacement for 12, wow, what an opportunity for Sam. But a bench is about a make-up, about covering potential bases. Of course you cannot cover all the bases but Owen Farrell by in large covers 10 and 12. Sam Burgess covers the midfield - and in reality just 12.
"I am just going through the scenario of Mike Brown being injured in the first minute against Fiji. What happens?
"Anthony Watson moves from wing, then that centre partnership that have only just played together gets broken up as Jonathan Joseph goes to the wing. Brad Barritt goes from 12 to 13. That is four shifts for one injury and I think your flow is getting stifled.
"For me Alex Goode covers more, Henry Slade covers more, Jack Nowell covers more. The Sam Burgess impact is huge but would he have been my No 23? No.
"Are we all behind him as Englishmen, go Slammin' Sam and make some impact? Yes."
England's World XV player
Greenwood, a key part of the 2003 World Cup winning squad, also would have started Joe Launchbury against Fiji instead of having him on the bench.
"In the second row he [Stuart Lancaster] has gone with Courtney Lawes and Geoff Parling - they were 14 from 14 in the lineouts against Ireland and are starting to find some fluidity.
"I just think that if you ask me how many World XV players have England got in their 31-man squad? Well, I think Joe Launchbury. Even though he has been out for a while I think he could be one of those World XV players. So I would have had him back on the pitch as soon as possible to get him back and raring to go."
