World Cup 2015: Sam Burgess handed England debut

Sam Burgess will make his England debut at centre when Stuart Lancaster’s side host France on Saturday.

The former Great Britain rugby league player is one of three debutants, with centre Henry Slade and flanker Calum Clark the other new faces in the XV.

Head coach Lancaster says Saturday’s match is the final chance for some of his players to impress before he selects his 31-man World Cup squad.

“The following week we’ll probably change a lot,” he said.

Burgess, 26, started his union career in midfield for Bath before switching to the back row.

Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson has questioned Burgess’ “game-management” at inside centre, but Lancaster described the former South Sydney player, who switched codes last October, as a ball carrier who could threaten the gain line.

“It’s an option for us to look at and it’ll be an interesting insight to see whether it goes well at the weekend or not,” he said.

“It’s about what’s right for the team. We’ll see if he can translate what he does in training and see how it goes.”

In addition to the three new players, full-back Alex Goode, prop Kieran Brookes and second row George Kruis start, with the men understood to be their rivals for places in the final squad – Danny Cipriani, Dave Attwood and Alex Corbisiero – on the bench.

Uncapped hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie is also among the replacements, while Owen Farrell and Richard Wigglesworth form an experienced half-back partnership.

‘Players need to perform’

With centres Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph almost guaranteed places in the final squad, Burgess, Slade, Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell are competing for the other centre spots.

Replacement Twelvetrees is set to be introduced early in the second half on Saturday.

“The three centres have a very good opportunity to put a marker down,” said Lancaster.

“This isn’t a team that’s going to play Fiji,” he said, referring to England’s World Cup opener on 18 September. “This is a team to look at options for us.”

‘Morgan has opportunity to make a mark’

Ben Morgan, who broke his left leg in January, returned to full training on Friday and will start at number eight against France.

“I’m 100% confident he’s ready to play the game,” added Lancaster of the 27-cap Morgan, who was in good form for his country before injury.

“But obviously it’s going to be a big step for him.

“He’s got an opportunity to put his marker down but, equally, we’ve got other back-row options to consider as well. He’s training well, he’s confident and, as a consequence, we need to have a look at him.”