He could even take both.
Advertisement
“Playing with such a talented bunch of boys is something I have been dreaming of for a long time so for it to come true, I’ve been pinching myself all week”, he added.
Touted as little more than a battering ram, Burgess did produce some trademark bullocking runs to crash over the gain line but also showed swift hands as part of a wraparound play with fellow centre Henry Slade in the build-up to Anthony Watson’s second try.
“Henry did well too”.
“While the game is going on, the TMO will now also have the ability to review a suspected incident of off-the-ball foul play separately from the television broadcast. It is very exciting to have these lads coming through”. If the Saracens forward lives up to his reputation as one of the two or three most accurate throwers in the land, while holding it together at the scrum, inclusion will be an open and shut case.
“I didn’t feel I had to go out and be the player everyone’s been writing and talking about”. It is the first game of the season and there is plenty to work on. “I’m enjoying it a lot more”.
“I certainly felt more comfortable against France than I did for the Saxons”.
“I did what I like to do – get my hands on the ball and get involved”. Already fighting to shake off a reputation for ill-discipline, the flanker looked distraught when he trudged off after being sin-binned for a risky clear-out at a ruck knowing his tournament chances had probably gone.
Burgess was sent to the sin bin in the 36th minute, with the craft Parra taking a quick-tap penalty and Burgess, who had not retreated ten yards, pulling back his shirt in an act that exposed his lack of union nous.
The pair are duelling for one of the four midfield slots in England’s World Cup squad with all eyes on Burgess to see if he can continue his meteoric – and critics state undeserved – ascension through the union ranks. The wincing from the 63,000 crowd at Twickenham, persuaded to pay at least £65 a ticket for a “friendly”, was audible on impact.
“If I was completely honest, I wouldn’t have Sam Burgess in the centre, I still prefer him at six”.
Seven minutes later Watson scored his second after Burgess, Farrell and Jonny May combined in the midfield to create space that the 21-year-old turned into a try after a clever jink. Former scrumhalf Matt Dawson said that in detailing Burgess’ attributes, “Lancaster didn’t talk about reading the game, game-management, analysis, positioning”. Replacement hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie overthrew, forcing England to defend hard once more.
A superb Jonny May try saw England pull clear again and although the power of the French saw them cut the margin to five points as Fulgence Ouedraogo drove over from a maul, the hosts held on.
England raced out of the blocks at the start of the second half and a sublime high cross kick from Alex Goode was inch flawless for May to chase, catch and touch down for his side’s third try.
Advertisement
“I slayed a demon”.
