Sam Burgess - The Missing Piece of England's Puzzle?
.jpg "The Missing Piece of England's Puzzle?")
Sam Burgess crosses the line in England's Rugby League semi-final against New Zealand
©PA
As Stuart Lancaster continues to mould his England side ahead of the 2015 World Cup, recent reports suggest he may have a wildcard ready to play come the start of the tournament.
South Sydney Rabbitohs and England rugby league star Sam Burgess has confirmed a big money move to Bath, having potentially been earmarked to line up as part of England’s midfield in 2015, and will be hoping to make a similar impact to that of Sonny Bill Williams – on the union stage.
League convert Williams was part of the New Zealand side crowned World Champions in 2011, and he and Burgess have had high profile clashes in both Australia’s NRL and the rugby league World Cup semi-final last November.
Burgess has to earn place - Lancaster:
"Sam is going to have to earn the right like anyone else - I've never said he's going to be fast-tracked into the World Cup squad," Lancaster said.
"I had a discussion with Sam's representatives and said there will be no short-cut into the next elite player squad that we announce in January.
"I can't see for one minute that Sam Burgess is going to be in that EPS squad having played two months of rugby union.
"If he earns the right to be an EPS player, he will have to do it the way everyone else has done it, by playing well for his club.
"The reality is that he'll go to Bath as a Bath player and play for Bath in the second half of next season.
"It's going to be extremely difficult for a player to come from rugby league in October and then play in the 2015 Six Nations.
"If he makes the transition smoothly and effectively and begins to play well during the second half of that season, then there is an outside chance he could make the World Cup training squad.
"If he makes the World Cup training squad, there are two warm-up games before the squad is announced..."
Before that game former Great Britain and England RL captain Jamie Peacock described the pair as “generational” players.
What followed was a sensational contest, after which Peacock reflected on Burgess’ performances as the best from a British player in 20 years.
One of four brothers who all play for South Sydney, Burgess produced an astonishing 80 minute display, crowned with what appeared to be the winning try, before England suffered an agonizing last gasp defeat.
Put simply, Burgess is a freak.
He combines the size and power of a forward with the athleticism and skill of a back.
Much like Williams, he has become known for his devastating defence and his ability to offload, which could make him a real focal point of the England backline.
Although Lancaster’s team is starting to take shape, selection in the three-quarters still appears very much up for grabs as the side try to develop a high-tempo, attacking game.
England have struggled to find a settled centre pairing for a few years now, and this has only been made worse by the injuries to Manu Tuilagi and Brad Barritt.
Billy Twelvetrees is the current incumbent at inside centre, tasked with bringing a creative edge to the midfield and releasing the exciting outside backs.
Although undoubtedly a talented player, the jury remains out as he has struggled for consistency with the team only looking threatening in patches.
In the autumn international series another rugby league convert, Joel Tomkins, failed to make an impact in the outside centre position and injury has since robbed him of the chance to develop further at this level.
The injury to Tomkins has given Northampton’s Luther Burrell a chance to make his claim for the position which has been helped with two tries in his first two appearances.
Burrell is a similar physique to Burgess and has taken his tries well with some smart running.
It seems strange that the speculation regarding Burgess has come about at a time when Burrell has looked promising. This may suggest that Lancaster’s true intentions are for Burgess to be wearing that shirt come 2015.
For Burgess to have left the NRL, one would suspect him to have been given assurances regarding international rugby.
With the salary cap in Australia being much higher than in England, as well as the NRL recently signing a one billion dollar television deal, money would not be the deciding factor to the Dewsbury-born 25-year-old.
Furthermore, South Sydney owner Russell Crowe has introduced his players to a world of celebrity stardom in addition to the Australian lifestyle.
Despite his undisputed talents, it would be a huge risk for Lancaster to place all his faith in someone who will have never played a game of professional rugby union until a year before the World Cup.
Recent history has shown that these type of deals don’t always work out as planned.
Current England coach Andy Farrell had just been voted the best player in the rugby league world when he left to join Saracens in 2005.
He was anticipated to play a big part in England’s quest to retain the World Cup in 2007.
However injuries and disputes over his best position meant he could never replicate his rugby league form.
If Burgess was to be picked by England it may force their hand to pair him with a player such as Twelvetrees.
While he would bring a great deal of physicality and athleticism to the midfield, he lacks a kicking game and perhaps the tactical awareness to open a defence up without relying on his running and offloading games.
He could be a Sonny Bill Williams or he could be an Andy Farrell, but make no mistake about it, Sam Burgess is a genuinely world class rugby player.
