Tuilagi axe opens RWC door for Burgess

Rugby league convert Sam Burgess is set to be the man to benefit from Manu Tuilagi’s high-profile axing from the World Cup. It is understood that Slammin’ Sam has been told he will be involved in Lancaster’s larger-than-expected squad, which will link up at Pennyhill Park on June 21.Burgess’ selection will raise eyebrows among those who do not believe that he has nearly enough to justify being considered to play for England in the World Cup.

But with Tuilagi banned until January 2016 the prospect of the 18 stone former South Sydney Rabbitoh being considered for international duty has greatly increased.

Lancaster is known to be a huge admirer of Burgess and reports inform us that he has made the decision to include him in his preliminary squad, barring any last minute change of heart, indicates he is being seriously considered for the World Cup in September.

 The former NRL player of the year has made the switch from centre to backrow in recent weeks, after an initial widely criticised transition between the rugby codes, he seems a lot more settled and effective in the backrow. Although Burgess played at blindside flanker for Bath against Gloucester in their Aviva Premiership clash over the weekend and has expressed his preference for the back row, Lancaster sees him much more as a ball carrying centre in the mould of serial offender Tuilagi. In many ways Tuilagi’s absence has simplified selection for Lancaster, who saw Jonathan Joseph excel at outside centre during this year’s Six Nations following a list of injuries to his midfield. Bath director of rugby Mike Ford has come out and backed Lancaster’s likely decision to include Burgess ‘I think Sam should be in the squad, as he can cover centre and the back row, it gives you the option of having a 6-2 split on the bench. It suits us having Sam at six because we have Kyle Eastmond and Jonathan Joseph in the centre, but if England want him as a 12, you suspect it would be as a crash-ball player and they would need a ball player somewhere else in the backline.’

 As expected, England’s two outstanding overseas-based stars Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon, won’t be included in the squad after Lancaster concluded the potential damage to team unity. The England boss believes that by picking the pair poses a risk of fracturing the relationship between the RFU and Premier Rugby that is too great. Lancaster is understood to have heavily contemplated the pros and cons of using the ‘exceptional circumstances’ clause but decided not to following lengthy discussions with the RFU.

Lancaster initially indicated he would pick a squad of between 45 and 46 players but has reportedly extended the preliminary squad to 50, which is expected to include 20-year-old Saracens flanker Maro Itoje and uncapped centres Henry Slade and Elliott Daly.