Rugby: Burgess gets chance to show his form in France warm-up match

Sam Burgess. Photo / Getty Images

Code-hopping superstar Sam Burgess will have a chance to book his place in the England rugby side's World Cup squad after being handed a test debut for Sunday's warm-up match against France at Twickenham.

Burgess has been selected by World Cup hosts England 10 months after his high-profile cross-code switch from league, having bowed out by winning the Clive Churchill medal as South Sydney claimed the NRL title.

The 26-year-old Burgess has been picked at second five-eighths, not blindside flanker where he produced his best performances for club side Bath last season, and will line up alongside fellow uncapped player Henry Slade in midfield, with experienced five-eighths Owen Farrell alongside the two new test centres.

Pundits have argued he has done little in his time in union to warrant such rapid promotion for all his success in league.

"We will see if Sam can translate what he's done in training, which is clearly good otherwise I wouldn't have taken this chance to look at him against France," said England coach Stuart Lancaster.

"I'm open-minded about what Sam can do - this isn't the team that's going to play against Fiji in our first World Cup game, this is the team to look at options.

"We need a balance in our backline, a balance of ball players, carriers and finishers. Sam ticks the ball carrier box.

"And obviously there's the physical nature of backlines and you need to look at that element, particularly defensively."

This is the first of three World Cup warm-up fixtures for England.

- AAP