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Twelvetrees keen for Burgess clash
ESPN Staff
December 16, 2014
Gloucester captain Bill Twelvetrees is relishing the prospect of a match-up with Bath's new boy Sam Burgess © Getty Images
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Gloucester captain Billy Twelvetrees is relishing the prospect of a centre battle with Bath's rugby league convert Sam Burgess when the two sides meet at Kingsholm this Saturday.

Burgess made his first start for Bath at inside centre in Friday's European champions Cup win over Montpellier after two successful cameos off the bench. There are no guarantees that he will start this week - indeed it's unlikely considering the riches Bath possess in that position in the form of Kyle Eastmond, Gavin Henson and Ollie Devoto.

However another appearance - whether from the start or off the bench - provides the possibility of an interesting sub-plot as Twelvetrees is the man in possession of the England No.12 jersey after playing against Australia last month.

Burgess has immediately been touted for an England call-up due to the confusion over who is England's finest centre pairing; he'll be competing not only with Twelvetrees and club-mate Eastmond, but Brad Barritt, Luther Burrell, Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi.

"If Sam plays or doesn't play it doesn't change anything from our point of view but it would be awesome to come up against a player of his quality and something I would look forward to," Twelvetrees told the Bath Chronicle.

"It's great for English rugby to get this calibre of player over here."

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