England injury crisis opens door for code-swapper Burgess
Rugby League convert Sam Burgess could see his bid to gain a place in England’s World Cup squad given a boost by the injury crisis engulfing Stuart Lancaster’s back division just weeks before the Six Nations starts.
Rugby League convert Sam Burgess could see his bid to gain a place in England’s World Cup squad given a boost by the injury crisis engulfing Stuart Lancaster’s back division just weeks before the Six Nations starts.
Now at English Premiership side Bath, where he has been playing at centre, Burgess is set to appear for the reserve England Saxons against the Irish Wolfhounds in Cork on Friday.
Burgess, who returned home from Australia with the specific aim of being selected for the 2015 World Cup hosts’ squad, has made only a handful of first-team appearances for Bath since his switch from NRL champions South Sydney Rabbitohs.
We’re all excited for Sam, but we're just taking it very, very calmly. He’s still potentially got three World Cups in him, o I think there's still plenty of time
But the senior England midfield’s injury struggles could help fast-track Burgess into the team.
Saracens centre Brad Barritt has a knee injury while Northampton counterpart Luther Burrell suffered concussion in the Saints’ 32-8 European Champions Cup thrashing by Racing Metro last weekend.
Meanwhile, Burgess’ Bath colleague Kyle Eastmond (shoulder) and fly-half/centre Owen Farrell (knee) are also battling to be fit for England’s Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on February 6.
Jonathan Joseph and Billy Twelvetrees are the only fit centres currently in the England senior squad and while Lancaster has said it would be a “big, big ask” for the 26-year-old Burgess to feature in the Six Nations, a few more injuries could change the picture significantly.