World Cup-winning English scrum-half Matt Dawson has said that rugby league convert Sam Burgess is not a centre and would be better suited in the backrow.
Speaking on Matt Dawson’s Rugby Show on the BBC, Dawson was pretty adamant that while Burgess power and skill were unquestioned, his positioning and ability to read the game left a lot to be desired.
“Stuart Lancaster has said [Burgess has] power, skill, agility, defence. No question there,” said Dawson.
“Lancaster didn’t talk about reading the game, game-management, analysis, positioning. Burgess hasn’t got it.
“When he’s been in the forwards he’s been a real threat.”
After winning the Clive Churchill Medal and the NRL premiership last year with South Sydney, Burgess switched to rugby union at the start of last season signing for second placed Aviva Premiership side Bath.
After a slow start in Somerset, Burgess settled into inside centre. As the season wore on and even played a couple of games for the England Saxons, but the 26-year-old remains uncapped for the senior side and still has a lot to do if he wants make Lancaster’s 31-man World Cup squad.
“I feel for Sam,” Dawson said. “If he had the coaching from both England and Bath and nailed down a position he would be a lot further down the line.
“You can’t take him to the World Cup just because he’s good for morale.”
Luther Burrell and Six Nations top try scorer Jonathan Joseph are all but certainties to make Lancaster’s squad meaning the likes of Burgess, Henry Slade, Billy Twelvetrees, Kyle Eastmond and Brad Barritt are all competing for the other centre spots in Lancaster’s squad.
Lancaster will name his final squad on the 31st of August, meaning the NRL premiership winner will have to earn a place in England’s squad for next month’s warm up games against France on the 15th and 22nd if he is to have any chance of making the final squad.
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