Rugby World Cup 2015: Sam Burgess won’t be fully up to speed, warns Joel Tomkins

Crossing over: Sam Burgess has moved from league to union

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Chris Jones19 August 2015

Just 10 months after switching to rugby union, Sam Burgess is very much in the mix to be in England’s World Cup squad.

But Joel Tomkins, who is uniquely qualified to judge Burgess, today warned that the former league star will still be getting to grips with some aspects of union during the tournament.

Tomkins turned himself from a rugby league forward into an England union centre and Burgess is trying to make an identical transition.

It took Tomkins took two years to make his Test debut in this code and he said: “In my first season in union, I never stopped thinking throughout the game while in league it comes naturally to you. By the time I played for England in 2013 I had certain instincts and felt I could make an impact on a game. If Sam does get into the World Cup squad then there will still be elements of the game that he won’t be fully comfortable with.”

Since moving to union last October Burgess has been used as a centre and flanker by Bath and made a positive start in the England No12 jersey in the 19-14 win over France on Saturday.

Although he has been left out of the squad to play France in Paris on Saturday, there is a growing feeling Burgess (right) may have already done enough to win a place in the World Cup squad. Head coach Stuart Lancaster admitted yesterday the midfield selection will “go down to the wire”. Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph are expected to be in the final 31‑man squad with the remaining centre places being fought over by Burgess, fellow Test rookie Henry Slade, Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees.

Tomkins, who returned to the 13‑man game last year, is back in London for Wigan’s Super League Super 8s clash with Catalan Dragons at The Den on September 5 and later that day Burgess hopes to be part of the England team taking on Ireland in the final World Cup warm-up fixture at Twickenham.

“Sam is at a different level to me and was the best forward in rugby league when he left the sport,” said Tomkins. “Hopefully, he can force his way into the final World Cup squad. When I made the switch I had to change the habits that were built up over 15 years and make new skills into habits and that takes time.”