Rugby World Cup: Ex-Irish centre slams Burgess

Sam Burgess is substituted during England's loss to Wales. Photo / Getty Images

Gordon D'Arcy, an 82-test veteran midfielder for Ireland, has slammed the selection and performance of Sam Burgess in the England World Cup side.

Burgess was chosen to start in England's dramatic loss to Wales last week and D'Arcy has pointed the finger at Burgess for much of the reason why.

D'Arcy wrote in the Irish Times this morning that Burgess "lacks the sense of timing, in attack and defence, required to be effective at international level. His naivety embarrassed those around him and severely damaged England's chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

"Stuart Lancaster picked a league convert who doesn't know how to play inside centre for the biggest match England have played since the 2007 World Cup final. To compound the problem, Brad Barritt was out of position at 13 and exposed accordingly when it mattered most."

His naivety embarrassed those around him and severely damaged England's chances of reaching the quarter-finals

Gordon D'Arcy

A veteran of 257 caps for club side Leinster, D'Arcy compared his own conversion from fullback to the mid-field to that of Burgess' switch from the NRL to Rugby Union.

"I only started playing centre in 2004. It took until the 2007 World Cup before I felt properly attuned to the nuances of the position and comfortable playing Test matches in the 12 jersey.

"Sonny Bill Williams had a daily tutorial from Tana Umaga - one the greatest centres ever - for two years at Toulon before returning to New Zealand and winning his first cap.

"His skill-set hasn't transferred to the position he is playing. Again, it takes time. Sam Burgess only arrived at a Bath training session last October."

D'Arcy ended his comment piece by declaring that England won't beat Australia on Sunday if Lancaster follows a similar line with his selections.

"England must change their team if they are to beat Australia and then put a record score on Uruguay. The selection errors are glaring now."