Early rugby debut a WC bonus for Burgess

England coach Stuart Lancaster says Sam Burgess’s earlier-than-expected rugby debut is a “bonus” as the code-hopping star looks to secure a place in his World Cup squad.

Burgess has been named on the bench for Bath’s Friday night (Saturday morning AEDT) English premiership clash against the Harlequins – a month ahead of schedule in his recovery from a fractured cheekbone and eye socket.

Rugby fans will be intrigued to see how Burgess performs less than two months after the 25-year-old suffered the injury in South Sydney’s drought-breaking NRL grand final win over Canterbury.

Lancaster plans to watch the Bath game but isn’t getting ahead of himself.

“Obviously the earlier he plays the game the more he can learn about it,” the coach said ahead of England’s Test against the Wallabies.

“It’s a bonus he’s starting earlier but it’s a long way to go before we start picking our World Cup squad.”

Lancaster knows from experience that some players make the transition to rugby union easily while others take longer to adapt.

“It will be fascinating to see how he goes (on Friday),” he said.

“I’ve not spoken to him but obviously trust the coaches at Bath.

“He’s passed fit and he’ll have learnt the game pretty quickly.”

Bath presented their star recruit at the Recreation Ground just four weeks ago.

Since then Burgess has impressed coach Mike Ford and the playing group to such an extent he’s debuting a month earlier than initially expected.

“He’s watched a lot of rugby union so the next step obviously is to have a crack,” Lancaster said on Thursday.

“It’s great for Bath to put him in there.”

Ford sees Burgess eventually settling as a back-row forward.

But Lancaster has previously made it clear he sees the convert in the centres for England.

That area remains unsettled with the Red Rose team trialling numerous pairings in recent Tests.

On Thursday it was put to Lancaster he might simply be waiting to combine Burgess with Manu Tuilagi, who has missed the November Tests with a groin injury.

“We’ll have to find out what position he (Burgess) plays,” the coach said.

“I’ll wait and see Friday night as well.”

Outspoken former Wallaby David Campese has suggested there’s too much hype surrounding Burgess considering he’s “never played the game”.

“Isn’t the whole idea about rugby bringing in the young guys? Why do we have to buy players from other codes? It’s bizarre,” Campese said.

But Burgess himself believes he’s capable of making the grade in time to be part of Lancaster’s World Cup campaign on home soil.

“It’s not going to be an easy transition,” he told reporters on his first day at Bath.

“I’ve got plenty of hard work to do but I don’t lack belief.”

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