Sam Burgess was in the spotlight on debut for England against France.© Steve Bardens - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images

Will Carling believes this Rugby World Cup has come too soon for Sam Burgess and has urged Stuart Lancaster to leave him out of the final 31-man party.

As Lancaster prepares to name his squad at Thursday lunchtime, one of the final selection calls seemed to be between Sam Burgess and Luther Burrell for who takes the fourth centre spot. The smart money is on Burgess edging ahead of his No.12 counterpart but Carling has warned against rushing him.

Burgess has only won one Test cap, which came against France on August 15, and Carling, who was speaking at Heineken's World Cup launch, says he feels "sorry" for the cross-code star.

"I'm in awe of Sam as a rugby league player, but there is no one that I have spoken to who I respect - ex-players, coaches - who thinks he's ready," Carling said. "I don't understand what the rush is and it's unfair on him. I feel sorry for him. If he wants to make it in union, there's plenty of time.

"He's been playing union for 10 months and half of that was in a different position to what England are playing him in. He'll hit you hard if he can line you up and he's a great guy, but I don't believe he's one of the four best centres in England.

"He was functional against France and wasn't a disaster, but there was nothing that made me think 'wow'. I thought Henry Slade had a far bigger impact than Burgess with his touches and the way he read the game.

"If you watched Burgess carefully he was out of position a huge amount in defence and England can't afford that against sides who will focus on him. He hasn't had time in the game. He doesn't understand where the ball is coming from and you can see that in the way his feet are when he lines up.

"The southern hemisphere boys will focus on him if he's playing. If [Australia centre] Matt Giteau plays against him......he'll sucker him on for the big hit and opponents will be coming from angles he doesn't understand."

Carling was also surprised at the expected axing of Danny Cipriani ahead of the final squad announcement.

"Coaches have to make calls, but Cipriani wasn't given a chance. He didn't get a start, he didn't even get a half," Carling said. "In the 20 minutes he was given on Saturday, he was outstanding, but that doesn't seem to have mattered. Why was he even in the squad if they weren't going to give him a fair go? Any time he has had, he's been exceptional."