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When Sam Burgess was informed yesterday that Wales centre Scott Williams had said he was glad to be facing England's new boy rather than the injured Jonathan Joseph tomorrow, Burgess’s response was somewhat pointed.
“Who’s that?” Burgess asked rhetorically. “Oh yes. OK, yes,” he said of the 33-cap Scarlets inside centre.
It was a confident, mischievous response from the 26-year-old former Bradford Bulls and South Sydney Rabbitohs forward, who 10 months after his switch from rugby league will make his second Test start at Twickenham tomorrow.
Show all 16 1 /16Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 15. Ayumu Goromaru (Japan) The unflappable full-back would have been delighted with a 24 point haul against South Africa alone, but to lead the Cherry Blossoms to a first ever victory over the Springboks in stunning circumstances will have been beyond his wildest expectations. Goromaru scored a try himself, added five penalties and two conversions and looked a constant danger with the ball on a historical day for rugby union.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 14. Noa Nakaitaci (France) Nakaitaci may not have got himself on the scoresheet – dropping the ball in the act of grounding it – but he was a thorn in the Italian’s side all night at Twickenham. It was his break down the left wing, with the ball in one hand, that set-up Rabor Slimani’s try and he also made strong gains in the first half.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 13. Cory Allen (Wales) Uruguay may have fallen apart after a strong start, but that should not take any gloss off Allen’s rapid-fire hat-trick in the first half at the Millennium stadium gave the Welsh fans plenty to cheer. With the No 13 shirt far from secure under Scott Williams, Allen did himself a world of good to force his way into the starting XV for the bigger games with Australia and England, but that will also depend on the severity of the injury he picked up that forced him off during the second half.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 12. Harumichi Tatekawa (Japan) Tatekawa may not have been as prevalent as Goromaru and scrum-half Fumiani Tanaka, but the inside centre made the second most metres of anyone on his side and did his fair share of the work. His carrying helped the Japanese’s cause supremely as he constantly passed the gainline, and he also chipped in defensively in a bid to stop the Springboks’ captain jean de Villiers.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 11. Nemani Nadolo (Fiji) Fiji may have come off the Twickenham pitch second best in Friday’s curtain-raiser, but Nadolo lived up to his billing as the Pacific Islander’s most potent weapon. The Crusaders wing announced his arrival at the World Cup by leaping above Anthony Watson to score their one and only try, and added the rest of their points with his giant boot.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 10. Frederik Michalak (France) The veteran fly-half was on the money throughout the 32-10 victory over Italy, with his passing bordering on the sublime and his kicking from hand limited to when it was truly needed as the French looked to play running rugby. He landed all of his penalty efforts bar two that couldn’t have been closer – they both hit the upright – but it was with the ball in hand that he excelled.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 9. Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan) It had to take a huge effort from any player to beat Goromaru to the man-of-the-match award, but Tanaka fully deserved it. The scrum-half was simply brilliant in linking the pack with the back line, and he was always on hand to move the ball on when Japan were under pressure.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 1. Marcos Ayerza (Argentina) Very unlucky to be on the losing side after such a strong performance. Rarely in this day and age does a front-row play the full 80 minutes, and it’s even rarer that it comes against the All Blacks. Ayerza was so dominant in the scrum though that he saw off the challenge of Tony Woodcock inside 46 minutes, and his replacement Wyatt Crockett didn’t far too much better. Out on his feet come the full-time whistle, the loosehead deserves a well earned break.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 2. Ole Avei (Samoa) Samoa’s victory over the United States was based around a dominant set-piece that saw a 100 per cent record in both the scrum and the lineout. Avei will come up against tougher opposition in the weeks to come, but such an astute performance stands him in good stead to take them on.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 3. Rabor Slimani (France) Slimani made mincemeat of Italian prop Matias Aguero in the scrum and he was a formidable force in the loose too. When France were beginning to grow in frustration at failing to cross the whitewash, it was Slimani who was in position to gather Michalak’s chip through and crash over and he received a rapturous send-off when he was replaced late on.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 4. Iain Henderson (Ireland) The Irish prop was never a guarantee to start in Ireland’s strongest side, but he looks to be a shoe-in following the weekend trouncing of Canada. The lock scored a try himself and was supreme in the air, unmatchable in defence and contributed immensely with the ball in hand. He led the way with 19 tackles, two turnovers, four offloads didn’t lose a lineout. The star of the weekend.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 5. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand) When New Zealand struggled, Retallick stepped up as he has done so time and time again. The lock ran hard in the first half and while he met a stubborn Argentine defence, it took a huge toll on the Pumas that eventually led to their weakening in the second half when the All Blacks could push on. He also demonstrated his lovely passing ability rarely seen for such a giant forward.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 6. Tom Wood (England) Few stood out for England in their opening victory over Fiji, but along with Mike Brown, Wood was one of those that deserves recognition. The flanker gave England an extra option in the air and was on the shoulder of replacement Sam Burgess to take one of his offloads and surge behind the Fijian line. He was also a huge presence in the England defence – even if that did result in him conceding a penalty for tossing an opponent to the floor by the neck.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 7. Michael Leitch (Japan) The Japanese captain led from the front with an unrivalled 17 tackles against the Springboks, and he also did the hard work with the ball in hand with 12 carries for success. Japan coach Eddie Jones promised that Japan meant business at the World Cup, but in Leitch he has a skipper that is ready to deliver on those words.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one 8. Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia) The Georgian giant led from the front to give his nation the first of what they hope will be two victories at a World Cup for the very first time. Gorgodze scored the first try for Georgia and made an astonishing 24 tackles – more than any other player in the first eight matches of the World Cup.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 team of the weekend - round one <b>Best replacement:</b> Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) Cross-coder Williams came on to give the All Blacks some penetration as he repeatedly broke the gainline before pulling off one of his trademark offloads. Williams put Nehe Milner-Skudder in for a try, only to see the wing butcher it, and he must in the frame to start their next match against the unfancied Namibians.
It is fair to say Burgess is not concerned what others think of his speedy elevation from newcomer to starting in the biggest match of the England head coach Stuart Lancaster’s four-year stewardship.
“I don’t believe what people say. I believe in Stuart. I believe in what he’s picked,” Burgess added.
“It’s their opinion. I believe in myself. I feel I’ve got the respect of my team-mates and the staff here. That’s the opinions that really count to me.
“My job as a player is to go out and deliver the job that he’s given me. That’s my main focus. I’ll just let my performance do the talking. I don’t want to make any bold predictions but I’ll be ready.”
Burgess suggested the game was among the most important of his career, alongside the NRL grand final, his last match for the Rabbitohs, which he ended with a fractured cheekbone.
“This is up there. It’s a big game, really excited to be a part of it. I’ve never played against Wales. I’ve got none of the scars or bad experiences against them.”
Burgess will be in direct opposition to British & Irish Lions centre Jamie Roberts, who has vast experience on the international stage. “Jamie’s a great player, very big and dominant. Looking forward to the battle,” said Burgess, who no longer feels like a rookie and was stumped when the difference between league and union was posed.
“I’ve stopped thinking about that, because I feel like I’m a rugby player,” he said. “I’m more focused about what my job is within this team.”
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