Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess to start crucial Test for England

ENGLAND coach Stuart Lancaster is set to make a selection bombshell and start Sam Burgess at centre in their World Cup crunch match against Wales.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: Sam Burgess of England is tackled by Gabiriele Lovobalavu of Fiji during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium on September 18, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

ENGLAND coach Stuart Lancaster is set to make a selection bombshell and start Sam Burgess at centre in their World Cup crunch match against Wales on Sunday.

Multiple English media outlets reported this morning that Lancaster is set to name Burgess at no. 12 tomorrow in a dramatically changed backline that also sees George Ford dropped for Owen Farrell, and Brad Barritt shifted to outside centre in the place of an injured Jonathon Joseph.

It will be Burgess’ second Test start and fourth game for England since he switched from the NRL 11 months ago.

Sam Burgess is set to start for England in the crucial World Cup Test against Wales.

But starting against Wales in a crucial World Cup pool match is comfortably his biggest game of any code since the NRL Grand Final win for the Rabbitohs.

With England, Wales and Australia all in the same pool at the World Cup — the pool of death — the winner at Twickenham on Sunday morning would be a strong showing of progressing through to the playoffs. Only two of the three can make it.

While Burgess’ selection as a starter came due to a midfield reshuffle following Joseph’s chest injury, the decision of Lancaster to axe Ford came as a surprise.

The Bath no. 10 had started six of the last seven England Tests.

But Farrell — along with Burgess — provided matchwinning impact from the bench for the English in their win over Fiji in the opening match of the World Cup.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess to start crucial Test for England