Former Irish centre Gordon D’Arcy slams Sam Burgess, says he cost England the game against Wales

TALK about sledging — this Rugby World Cup star copped a massive spray from a fellow pro for being “naive” and “embarrassing”.

BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Sam Burgess faces the media during the England press conference at Pennyhill Park on September 28, 2015 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

SLEDGING used to be something that happened on the field and stayed on the field.

Well, former Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy decided that, since he wouldn’t get the chance to face Sam Burgess on the park, he would sledge him as publicly, and with as much venom, as he could off it. And boy did he succeed.

Writing for the Irish Times, the 35-year-old ripped into the rugby league convert for his performance during England’s surprise 28-25 loss to Wales in the Rugby World Cup, saying he cost the home side any chance of victory.

“Burgess lacks the sense of timing, in attack and defence, required to be effective at international level,” said D’Arcy.

“His naivety embarrassed those around him and severely damaged England’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals.”

His criticism of Burgess also included a not-so-subtle jibe at England coach Stuart Lancaster, who is under enormous pressure to win the tournament in front of an expectant home crowd.

“Stuart Lancaster picked a league convert who doesn’t know how to play inside centre for the biggest match England have played since the 2007 World Cup final,” said D’Arcy.

At this point in his column D’Arcy was well and truly coming in off the long run, and he saw no reason to stop.

Burgess wouldn’t be wearing an England shirt at all if it D’Arcy was a selector.

He said that Burgess was replaced in the second half “because the England coaching team accepted, long after everyone else, that he had no idea what was happening around him”.

Gee, tell us what you really think, Gordon.

The former British and Irish Lions representative said it just wasn’t possible for Burgess to adapt to playing at the highest level in a new sport in such a short amount of time. The 26-year-old left the South Sydney Rabbitohs after helping them win the 2014 NRL premiership as a back-rower, and joined English club Bath a year ago.

D’Arcy said inside centre was such a unique position that it took him three years before he felt completely comfortable in the role, and to expect any significant contribution from the former league star in the number 12 jersey given his lack of exposure would be foolish.

“I only started playing centre in 2004. It took until the 2007 World Cup before I felt properly attuned to the nuances of the position and comfortable playing Test matches in the 12 jersey,” said D’Arcy.

“Sam Burgess only arrived at a Bath training session last October. It’s simply not possible for him to be ready. And now we have proof.”

After starting positively with a 35-11 win over Fiji in the tournament opener, England’s three point loss to Wales puts them in danger of failing to get out of the pool of death. They need to secure a win against Australia on Sunday morning (AEST) to sure up their position in Pool A or risk being embarrassingly bundled out of the World Cup, an event that would be nothing short of disastrous for the 2003 champions.

Australia will be hoping to make it three wins from three against the Poms after beating Fiji and Uruguay in their first two games.