EASY DOES IT FOR SAM

from JULIE STOTT in Melbourne make my tackles. I’ll just give it my best shot and not let the team down.”

Burgess heard his right knee pop in a tackle during England’s opening game against Australia but tried to play on.

However, England’s medical team told him to come off in the second half and within an hour he knew exactly why.

He said: “I’d have finished the game against Australia if I could. It’s a bad habit of mine. I always try push it.

“I tried not to worry too much and I had a scan at the stadium within 20 minutes of the full-time whistle.

“We had a rough Subs: idea of the injury, got some specialist advice the following day and came up with a plan and it’s all worked out.

“I’ve had similar knee injuries before. A medial ligament is instability and I just had to strengthen it and let the tendon heal.”

Bennett believes Burgess can last the 80 minutes if he plays wide rather than in the middle.

“I’ll play anywhere the coach wants me to play. I enjoy playing a bit wider at times,” Burgess added.

Jermaine McGillvary missed training yesterday with a slight ankle injury but is expected to be fully fit for Sunday.

Jonny Lomax misses out for the third game running with a calf injury and is again replaced at full-back by Gareth Widdop.