England
Lancaster expects Burgess to stay in union
PA Sport
October 6, 2015
England need consistency

England head coach Stuart Lancaster is convinced Sam Burgess will remain a rugby union player despite growing speculation he will return to league after the World Cup.

Odds have been shortened on Burgess ending his cross code adventure after only a year and one bookmaker has stopped taking bets altogether amid reports he is set to join Leeds Rhinos.

England crashed out of the World Cup with a 33-13 defeat by Australia on Saturday and Burgess' contribution to the group campaign was one start and two replacement appearances.

The 26-year-old Yorkshireman has been dropped from the matchday 23 for Saturday's final match against Uruguay and there is a groundswell of opinion that he has made his last Red Rose appearance.

Lancaster, however, insists Burgess will not be ending his three-and-a-half-year contract after only 12 months.

"I've not had any conversations with him about a move to rugby league at all," Lancaster said. "Genuinely, 100 percent I didn't know that story was out there. My last conversation with him was about him going back to Bath. He can't wait to get stuck into the Premiership.

"He feels he's made good strides as a player and he wants to continue to improve. Bath will be delighted to have him back and I can't see anything changing in that regard."

© David Rogers/Getty Images

Lancaster offered a glimpse into England's future by naming a midfield trio of George Ford, Owen Farrell and Henry Slade against Uruguay. Chris Robshaw remains as openside and captain.

Completing the backline reshuffle for the death throes of the failed World Cup at Manchester City Stadium and are the selection of scrum-half Danny Care, wing Jack Nowell and full-back Alex Goode.

"Sam wasn't picked because I want to have a look at this combination for this game," Lancaster said. "I've watched George and Owen since they were 18 and looked at them as an option and combination. Slade has had to wait but he's a great one for the future.

"It's an exciting selection. George, Owen, Henry - these guys are great players and will be great players for the future.

"We looked at them in training. Now we have so many ball players in our backline we're wondering who is going to carry the ball!"

The positions of Lancaster and his assistants Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt are subject to a review by the Rugby Football Union that will be conducted once the World Cup is over.

England must close a World Cup that began amid such high expectations with an inglorious fixture against the weakest team in the competition, but Lancaster believes perspective is require during the longest week in Red Rose history.

"Clearly you're in a dark place. How do you brush something like that off?" he said. But equally as a leader in charge of the team you have to give everyone a sense of direction, purpose and perspective. That's an important word.

"While all the noise outside the team is huge at the moment, internally I'm absolutely determined the team stays together and stays positive and stays believing in what they're doing.

"We've played some brilliant rugby over the past 12 or 18 months and even before then. We've not won every game, but we've won a lot and played some good rugby and people shouldn't forget that.

"It's important the players understand that and listen to what I'm saying about where they can go as a team in the future. I think they've got fantastic potential.

"A big driver is that the last impression you leave in any walk in life or competition is very important. It's important that we put together a positive, attacking display and I think this team will reflect that."

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