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.
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks Jack! I think Eng mentioned the issue is lineout. Poms want jumping backrowers. Sam's not a test level jumper apparently But he's 6'5. Wondering how long it takes for him to master this
Taylorman
Guest
Could be deadweight at the Wcup if he's not sorted positionally. Can see him getting turned around by the SH three if he plays at Centre. That would be silly on his experience in the position. It's rare that someone picks up the Centre role in short time and can match world class opposition.
Bakkies
Guest
Haven't watched much of Bath due to BT (I would watch them more if they were on a channel I don't have to pay extra) and I think he moved to 6 and had some good games. Leave him there. England aren't with flush quality blindsides so an opening could be there.
Ginger Meggs
Guest
Sam has three times the work rate and few of the ball skills of SBW. Andy Farrell, part of the England coaching team, made the switch from test league forward in the UK to test inside centre for England rugby and thought that Sam could do it too...Wrong...but he would make a great number 6.
Not Bothered
Guest
And Thorn and Lote.
MJB
Guest
At the same time, loose forward in union is not a position you just pick up overnight either. There's a lot of scrummage, line out and breakdown technique that you need to be very good at, and that takes some time to get used to.
Targa
Guest
SBW is a league forward who made the switch but it took him 3-4 years to learn back play
Breakdown
Guest
Folauand Robinson are the only league players that made an impact immediately
Rarojuice
Guest
You don't just convert to a fully fledge centre. SBW took atleast 2-3 solid years to be a decent 2nd 5 after through his stints in Toulon and with the Crusaders. The All Blacks tried to convert Ben Smith to centre, one of the best backs going around in Rugby and even he seemed to struggle. Hard road ahead for Burgess, not that he doesn't have the skills, he just doesn't have the time.
Mike
Guest
I am inclined to agree that he will make a better loosie than centre. I have seen enough of him in the Sydney league comp to know his quality. If the English want to overlook him, that would suit me fine.
whydoncha
Guest
Better 8 than 6 I reckon and he is definitely a forward. It's a shame the poms stuffed around with him and wasted his time trying to plug a backline hole and thinking they were going to get this game changing centre a la Sonny Bill. You only had to watch him in the NRL and compare his game to SBW to see SBW offered so much more in terms of finesse and ball skills. George just likes to put his head down and burge, I mean barge away.
Alex
Guest
Did he start doing any additional training through 2014? Correct me if I'm wrong but he announced his plan to convert either before or at the start of the NRL season, surely he could've spent some time with the waratahs in order to learn the game better? Also might he fit in better at 8?
crocodile
Guest
I don't know too many either. But Sam is a pretty decent footballer and could probably manage. The question is whether a year is enough time.
Phil
Guest
Do the Poms really need Burgess?Sure,his performance for Souths last year was incredible,but he hasn't exactly set the world on fire since switching codes.Played some good games but nothing that really says he is a must selection.Not knowing whether he is a forward or a back must not have helped either and I cannot remember too many league forwards who have switched codes successfully(except maybe Brad Thorn).