A whole new ball game for Burrell
challenge for me and I’m still on my journey. It feels like a new path has started.
“I’m a big fan of I’ve always said that. I’ve watched it religiously throughout my career.
“When was involved with England and Stuart Lancaster was there, he used to replicate some league drills. Then we had league lads come over like Sam Burgess, Owen Farrell and George Ford – I’ve naturally been surrounded by it.
“Having previous experience
Ileague,
playing it when I was younger means it’s in my DNA.
“But it’s still about getting myself up to speed with the game because it’s getting quicker and quicker and more advanced.”
Wolves coach Steve Price said Burrell’s approach to training had seen him earn selection quicker than he had anticipated, and he expected the player to continue at centre after he capital.
Burrell said: “I didn’t really have any sort of goal in mind about how quickly I wanted to play.
“You can do as much conditioning as you want, but you can’t replicate match fitness and the physical side of it.
“You have two or three grown men trying to smash you, defences are a lot quicker and you have to react a lot quicker.
“For me, I back my rugby ability – it was just about my knowledge of the game on Saturday.
“I’ve been very fortunate to be surrounded by quality players. I could reel off a few like Ben Currie, Jack Hughes, Blake Austin, Daryl Clark, Dec Patton, Jason Clark – they’ve all been great with me.
“On top of those, Briersy and Hendo [assistant coaches Lee Briers and Andrew Henderson] have been fantastic in getting me to where I am now.
“But I’ve still got a long way to go. This is the first step on the ladder.” featured there in the ENGLAND went top of theWomen’s Rugby Super Series in San Diego as world champions New Zealand suffered a shock defeat.
The Red Roses followed up their opening win over host nation America last week with a narrow 19-17 victory over Canada.
Captain Sarah Hunter scored the match-winning try with five minutes to play, leaving England as the only unbeaten team after the Black Ferns went down to a 25-16 defeat by France, who had lost to the Canadians in their opening game.
England now take on the French on Wednesday before ending their campaign against New Zealand on Sunday.