If England end up scoring half as many tries as there have been questions about Sam Burgess’s World Cup prospects they will win the Webb Ellis Cup at a canter. Even the complete absence of the big man’s name from the teamsheet for Saturday’s warm-up game against France in Paris was a story: could it mean a place in the final 31 is already guaranteed?
According to Stuart Lancaster, who should have a better idea than most, the answer is a conclusive ‘no’. Among the conspiracy theories doing the rounds is that Burgess was secretly inked into the squad months ago but those who believe it were not present when the head coach met his cross-code contender on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve never made any promises to any player, least of all Sam,” Lancaster said. “Perhaps people should listen to my one-to-one with him this morning. The message to all the players is: ‘Centre is one of the most competitive positions and everyone’s going to have to earn the right to get in.’”
In almost the same breath Lancaster also made it clear Luther Burrell requires a big game after the Northampton player was confirmed alongside Jonathan Joseph in England’s starting midfield for the second of their three warm-up games. The final decision would “go down to the wire” unless Burrell performs like a cross between Brian O’Driscoll and Ma’a Nonu, scores a brilliant hat-trick and kills the whole protracted debate stone dead.
If that were to happen the impressive Henry Slade will be vulnerable despite his outstanding debut effort at Twickenham last Saturday. Lancaster, until recently, regarded the Exeter youngster as one for the future and also remains firmly of the belief England need to pose a physical threat in midfield when the tournament comes around.
“You need physicality in your backline to defend and play against the likes of Tevita Kuridrani and Jamie Roberts,” he said. “If it is a wet and raining Saturday night in October and we’re playing against some big side, sometimes it’s just about physicality, getting over the gainline and whatever else. Henry definitely offers other options but we’ll have to make that decision next week.”
Alternatively there could just as easily be an Indian summer perfectly suited to Slade’s fine distribution skills. Either way this is looming as a definitive call and a major test of selectorial nerve, unless injury cruelly intervenes and makes the decision rather more straightforward.
By going with Billy Twelvetrees and Danny Cipriani on the bench rather than Burgess and Slade, however, Lancaster has remained faithful to his promise to give everyone a shot at the prize, fanciful or not. What he did not bargain for is another injury to Alex Corbisiero, whose place as the fifth prop suddenly looks in grave danger if he does not recover quickly from sciatic pain down his right hip.
Corbisiero has had rotten luck since starring for the Lions in 2013 and needs it to change rapidly. “Unfortunately for Alex the decision about this weekend has been taken out of my hands and that could have a bearing,” Lancaster said. “He has to be able to train next week and that’s not for definite. The clock is ticking and we need to see him train. I don’t know how long sciatic pain takes to settle.”
Amid the swirl of speculation it was easy to overlook the joy of Saracens’ Jamie George, picked to win his first cap and within a half-decent performance of a World Cup berth as hooker. Cipriani appears to be in need of a sporting miracle but will be grateful to Lancaster for giving him one last opportunity. “There’s a better chance he’ll come on at 15 because there’s a better chance of his inclusion in the squad in that position,” said Lancaster, whose starting XV contains 12 members of the side who put seven tries on France in the final game of last season’s Six Nations championship.
The RFU’s chief executive, Ian Ritchie, has re-emphasised the need for England’s players to set a positive example for the duration of a tournament he believes will “transform rugby in this country” if it goes well. “The squad understand their broader responsibilities,” he said. “You can never say never and you can’t guarantee it, but I think the squad are in a really good place.”
England (v France, Saturday): Brown (Harlequins); Nowell (Exeter), Joseph (Bath), Burrell (Northampton), May (Gloucester); Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); Marler (Harlequins), T Youngs (Leicester), Cole (Leicester), Lawes (Northampton), Launchbury (Wasps), Haskell (Wasps), Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: George (Saracens), Brookes (Northampton), Wilson (Bath), Attwood (Bath), Easter (Harlequins), Care (Harlequins), Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Twelvetrees (Gloucester).
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