Sam Burgess made his first Premiership start in Bath's loss to Leicester © Getty Images

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Sam Burgess has little idea of what to do in a lineout but the Bath recruit insists he has no regrets about his decision to switch codes.

Burgess took another step in his rugby education on Sunday night, making his first Aviva Premiership start in Bath's 17-8 loss to Leicester. The former NRL star had a quiet evening at outside-centre as England coach Stuart Lancaster watched on from the stands but, while he received few opportunities at Welford Road, the backline looms as his most likely destination with Burgess revealing rugby's lineout remained much of a mystery.

"I have enjoyed some parts of the scrumming but not so much the lineouts, to be blatantly honest … because I just don't understand them," Burgess said ahead of his first Premiership start.

Lancaster has earmarked Burgess for a potential international start in England Saxons' clash with Irish Wolfhounds later in January, and Burgess said he was happy with his progress to date. But he had not anticipated the challenges a code swap could present.

"I don't think I'm going to be an overnight success," Burgess said. "I knew it was going to be tough in transition but I didn't know it was going to be as tough as it is. But like I said, I came for the challenge and its certainly delivered that.

"I've doubted things within the game but I've not doubted my decision [to switch codes]. I've doubted decisions I've made, like in terms of on the field and on the training field. But in terms of the overall decision to come here; I've never doubted that."

Burgess' ultimate goal remains a spot in England's squad for Rugby World Cup 2015. The midfield appears to be his long-term destination, meaning he would contend with the likes of Billy Twelvetrees, Kyle Eastmond, Manu Tuilagi, Luther Burrell and Brad Barritt for a spot in the England backline. That appears some way off for now and the former NRL enforcer is in little doubt of the progress he'll need to make if he's to feature in rugby's global showpiece.

"I'm not even in the Bath first team yet … that'll sort itself out when I get there," Burgess said of his World Cup hopes. "I'm just going to keep playing and when I get my opportunity, I'll enjoy it and do my best with that. I'd love to be a part of the [World Cup] squad; I'd love to be given a chance but I guess I can't talk myself into a team. You can sit here and talk until the cows come home but I've really got to go and play, and get on the field really."