Chris Ashton: Sam Burgess Is Not Prepared Enough to Be In the England Squad
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| Chris Ashton: Sam Burgess Is Not Prepared Enough to Be In the England Squad |
Chris Ashton thinks that Sam Burgess is going to be a rugby union star in the future for England but he is not good enough right now to be taken as a center for world cup. He believes that Sam Burgess did not have enough time to learn and prepare himself to take the part of a center for an occasion like Rugby World Cup 2015. As a former player of the rugby league he made this comment and he was with Sam Burgess in the training camp too for the Rugby World Cup 2015.
He thinks that Burgess is good enough to provide cover at the blindside flanker and he can do it in the center too. But the problem is with the combination of Brian O’Driscoll and Will Carling he believes there will be still gap in the midfield. On Saturday Burgess took his second cap for the England team where he had cameo part in the victory of England. England beat Ireland by 23-11 and match took place at Twickenham. Recently Ashton has joined in the columnist team of The Daily Telegraph and he made his comment there. He said
Sam’s won a Grand Final in Australia, he’s played England rugby league, so he has that experience
He added he is one of the biggest lads playing rugby now and he had similar aura like Martin Johnson. You have to look at him to give attention when he walks past you. When it comes to the playing side he is a quiet a player and he is going to be even better as a union player. But the main problem is that he believes Sam did not have enough time to get himself prepare for this level. He did not have enough time to prepare and play at the position for the world cup level. He added,
He can do what we’ve seen him do against France the other day. He’ll smash people and he’ll run all day. But it’s so different to knowing, without having to think, about your job in the team. It’s so different to smashing someone when they run at you
Talking about what he has to do Ashton said that at first he need to be get himself in the right position at the right time so he can his hand perfectly on the ball. At this part Ashton is not convinced yet because he believes that Sam did not have enough time to do this. He mentioned that it is sure that Sam is going to be a part of the England team and he can be either in forward or backward too but he is not sure that how much is needed for that. Finally he added
If they need him to come and play six, he’s played there before, so they’ve got that option as well
It is sure that for England in the case of midfield partnership Jonathan Joseph and Brad Barritt will be the first choice. So Lancester, the coach of England may use Burgess as an impact replacement. All things will become clear when England will Fiji as the Rugby 2015 world opening match.
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