BURGESS NOD PUTS HEAT ON BURRELL

SAM BURGESS last night appeared all but certain of a place in England’s World Cup squad only 10 months after making the switch from rugby league. The Bath centre (right) has been left out of the second warm-up game against France on Saturday, but all the indications are that his strong Test debut at Twickenham last weekend persuaded Stuart Lancaster he is ready for the showpiece event. While the head coach suggested the midfield selection will ‘go down to the wire’, there is a growing sense that Burgess is all but assured of making the cut for the final 31, along with Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph. Luther Burrell is under pressure, but if he plays well at inside centre on Saturday he can fend off Exeter rookie Henry Slade. Lancaster held private meetings with most of his players over the last two days. Asked about Burgess, he said: ‘I gave him my thoughts, which were pretty positive. I told him he wasn’t playing this weekend, which he was disappointed about. ‘Obviously Saturday helped, in terms of the way he performed. Sam has been impressive. Equally, I have somebody like Luther, who knows there is a big challenge ahead of him. I’m expecting a response from him on Saturday as well.’ Rejecting the suggestion that Burgess’s World Cup inclusion had been preordained since his arrival in union, Lancaster added: ‘The message to all the players is: “Everyone is going to have to earn the right to get in”. I’ve never made any promises to any player, least of all Sam.’ Slade has also forced himself into late contention, but Lancaster said: ‘For that to happen, someone like Luther has to miss out, He might have something to say about that. ‘I thought Henry did great. There were one or two areas he could have improved on. I said: “You are not going to be involved this weekend, however, this where we’re at”.