Rugby: Coach won't rule out Burgess

Sam Burgess.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster refuses to dismiss the prospect of including code-hopping superstar Sam Burgess in his World Cup squad, despite admitting he's settled on 80 per cent of the players.

Burgess' rugby debut for Bath has been delayed until December at the earliest after he broke his cheekbone in a man of the match performance for South Sydney in the NRL grand final just over a week ago.

The powerful 25-year-old has told Lancaster he has targeted a spot in his 31-man squad for England 2015, the majority of which the head coach insists has already been inked in.

Kyle Eastmond, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees and Brad Barritt are contenders at second five-eighths, the position earmarked for the opening phase of Burgess' transition from league.

Lancaster also identifies Owen Farrell as a possibility at 12, enabling the in-form George Ford to be accommodated at first-five, and warns Burgess that the competition for places is fierce.

When asked if there is enough time for Burgess to force his way into his World Cup plans, Lancaster told Sky Sports News: "I guess we'll see. It will be fascinating to see how he goes.

"The break is probably a good thing for Sam, it'll give him a break that he probably needs.

"He can get across here and can learn the game in a quieter environment rather than being thrown straight into the spotlight.

"Having spoken to him, his mind-set obviously is to make the World Cup squad.

"We have some very good centres who I'm sure will have something to say about that and he will have to learn the game quickly, but he's mentally strong.

"Obviously he has got to learn the game first, but he is a very, very good player and an impressive person."

Lancaster said it wasn't so much Burgess' physical toughness that impressed him but rather the mental toughness which had enabled him to make brave career choices.

"What stands out for me is his mental toughness and strength, the desire to dominate his opposite number," he continued. "He's played against some huge stars in rugby league, he's taken the decision to go out to Australia at 18 years old because he wants to test himself and that's a big thing to do.

"He's done that, he's achieved it and now he sees another challenge in front of him and you've got to admire someone who has that sense of mental strength."

Lancaster names his elite player squad for the upcoming tests on Wednesday week with the visit of the All Blacks to Twickenham on November 8 launching the series.