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Sam Burgess: England centre linked with Leeds Rhinos move but Stuart Lancaster insists he's staying with Bath

Burgess has been linked with a move to Super League side Leeds Rhinos after a disappointing Rugby World Cup with England

Jack de Menezes

Tuesday 06 October 2015 16:46 BST

England centre Sam Burgess (Getty Images)

Bookmakers’ have suspended the market on Sam Burgess making a return to rugby league after reports linked the England rugby union star with a move to Super League grand finalists Leeds Rhinos.

However, England head coach Stuart Lancaster has completely dismissed the idea and says he is convinced that Burgess will return to Premiership side Bath to continue his rugby union education.

Lancaster has faced huge criticism for the selection of 26-year-old Burgess, both in the original 31-man Rugby World Cup squad and as a starting inside centre against Wales in the pool stage – a match that England went on to lose 28-25.

Burgess was today dropped from England’s matchday squad that will take on Uruguay in their final Pool A match this Saturday. Having already been demoted from the starting XV to the replacements’ bench, the move has been seen as an admission that the Burgess gamble has not paid off.

England vs Australia player ratings

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1/30England vs Australia player ratings

England vs Australia player ratings

<b>England:</b> 15. Mike Brown - 6 out of 10

Uncharacteristic knock-on inside his own 22 put his side under pressure, but he made up for it with a try-saving tackle on Folau. A quiet game with ball in the hand though.

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England vs Australia player ratings

14. Anthony Watson - 6 out of 10

Showed sheer strength to break two tackles and score his try, but unfortunately it didn’t spur on some of his under-performing teammates.

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England vs Australia player ratings

13. Jonathan Joseph - 6 out of 10

Threatened to break free throughout the first-half but his switch to the wing nullified his role in the game and all of his attacking came outside of Australia’s 22.

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England vs Australia player ratings

12. Brad Baritt - 5 out of 10

His best moment came seconds before he went off as he won a penalty after chasing down Kurtley Beale. Tackling was better this week, but his days in the red rose are numbered.

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England vs Australia player ratings

11. Jonny May - 5 out of 10

Kept very quiet in the first-half and was replaced in bizarre circumstances as he emerged for the second period only to turn and limp off before play resumed.

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England vs Australia player ratings

10. Owen Farrell - 4 out of 10

Kicking from hand was incredibly sloppy, and while he retained his 100 per cent kicking record, he will be blamed for a stupid shoulder charge on Matt Giteau that saw him sin-binned and end any hope of an English fightback.

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England vs Australia player ratings

9. Ben Youngs - 5 out of 10

Nowhere near his best again and his inability to provide quick ball seriously hurt England’s chances. Replaced early after the break with Richard Wigglesworth.

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England vs Australia player ratings

1. Joe Marler - 4 out of 10

Romain Poite set his crosshairs on the Harlequins loosehead and he was withdrawn before he was sent to the cooler. Three penalties for angling in – exactly what the Australian doctor ordered – put paid o his World Cup.

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England vs Australia player ratings

2. Tom Youngs - 6 out of 10

One awful lineout throw but his play with ball in hand bordered on the excellent when England were under the kosh in the first half.

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England vs Australia player ratings

3. Dan Cole - 6 out of 10

Had his hands full with the challenge that Sio brought and his departure in the second half suggested he had lost the battle. Looked a different player when not going forward in the scrum.

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England vs Australia player ratings

4. Joe Launchbury - 6 out of 10

Bizarrely named man of the match although he tried his best to have an impact on the game. Looked broken as he walked off the field, but his time will come.

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England vs Australia player ratings

5. Geoff Parling - 5 out of 10

Took the very first lineout when England still had high hopes, but his effect faded dramatically and you wouldn’t have known that he was still on the pitch come the final whistle.

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England vs Australia player ratings

6. Tom Wood - 6 out of 10

A unit in defence once again but even he couldn’t live with the brilliant Hooper. Never loses through a lack of trying.

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England vs Australia player ratings

7. Chris Robshaw - 5 out of 10

His days as England captain look to be over bar one meaningless outing in Manchester, and he was completely outclassed by his opposite number. His missed tackle on Israel Folau can sum up England’s World Cup.

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England vs Australia player ratings

8. Ben Morgan - 7 out of 10

One of the standout first half performers as he put his body on the line for the cause. Tired in the second as the pace caught up with him, but one of the bright stars on a deeply dark night.

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England vs Australia player ratings

<b>Australia:</b> 15. Israel Folau - 6 out of 10

Far from his best, which was a shame from such a big time player, but at least he looked to come into the line and on another day could’ve had two tries. Replaced by Matt Toomua midway through the second half.

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England vs Australia player ratings

14. Adam Ashley-Cooper - 7 out of 10

Did the basics well as he has become so accustomed to, and produced the final pass to send in Giteau in the corner to spark the Wallaby celebrations.

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England vs Australia player ratings

13. Tevita Kuridrani - 7 out of 10

More than held his own in the centre and used his sizeable bulk to take the bite out of Joseph. Never took a step backwards which gave Australia a perfect platform.

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England vs Australia player ratings

12. Matt Giteau - 7 out of 10

Quietly went about his business to link the pack with the stupidly talented back line at Australia’s disposal, and showed his grit when he got up from an illegal tackle from Farrell that nearly rearranged every bone in his upper torso to score the final try.

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England vs Australia player ratings

11. Rob Horne - 5 out of 10

Picked up an arm injury very early on and was replaced by Kurtley Beale.

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England vs Australia player ratings

10. Bernard Foley - 9 out of 10

The true man of the match whose 28-point haul is the stuff dreams are made of. Stepped back inside Youngs and Brown to score his first try, and was on Beale’s shoulder to finish the second. Add a 100 per cent kicking record as well as exemplary passing and you’ll see why Foley has kept Quade Cooper out of this side.

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England vs Australia player ratings

9. Will Genia - 7 out of 10

The scrum-half produced quick ball but his game was made easier by forwards sprinting onto his passes unlike those in white.

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England vs Australia player ratings

1. Scott Sio - 7 out of 10

Saw off the challenge of Cole, though started off in the wrong, and did well to get Romain Poite back on his side.

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England vs Australia player ratings

2. Stephen Moore - 7 out of 10

The skipper grew a little wayward in the lineout during a testing second half, but that can be put down to tiredness as he left soon after. Showed delightful passing skills when out in the back line.

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England vs Australia player ratings

3. Sekope Kepu - 8 out of 10

The talk was that Australia had found a loosehead who could scrummage, but no one mentioned the tighthead. Kepu gave Marler so many problems that he was hauled off the pitch, and Mako Vunipola didn’t fare much better either.

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England vs Australia player ratings

4. Kane Douglas - 6 out of 10

Gave away a penalty in the second half when England were threatening an unlikely comeback, but all in all he didn’t do an awful lot wrong.

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England vs Australia player ratings

5. Rob Simmons - 7 out of 10

Reliable in the air and looked to take the restart every time it came his way.

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England vs Australia player ratings

6. Scott Fardy - 6 out of 10

The quiet man of the Australian back-row did what he had to, but with ‘Pooper’ leading the way he was always going to be outshined.

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England vs Australia player ratings

7. Michael Hooper - 9 out of 10

An unstoppable force in the breakdown as he tortured England in the ruck. Didn’t see too much of the ball in attack, but that’s because he was usually turning it over.

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England vs Australia player ratings

8. David Pocock - 8 out of 10

His defence was very impressive but it was his role as first receiver that stood out. Looked to move the ball on which gave the back line time and space to work with. His worth to the Wallabies simply cannot be explained.

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Previous reports have claimed that Burgess will move back to rugby league having spoken with his former NRL side, South Sydney Rabbitohs, and now bookmakers SkyBet have suspended the market on Burgess joining 2015 Super League table-toppers Leeds Rhinos – who take on Wigan Warriors in this Saturday’s Grand Final.

When asked about Burgess joining the Rhinos during a press conference earlier today, Lancaster said: “That’s the today’s news is it?

“I’ve not had any conversations with him about a move to rugby league at all. Genuinely, I 100 per cent didn’t know that story was out there. My last conversation with him was about going back to Bath and 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.”

Burgess has been dropped from England's squad to face Uruguay (Getty Images)

Not content with just offering odds on a Super League return, punters can also put money on Burgess being spotted at this weekend’s Grand Final. With England’s final pool game taking place at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Burgess would be able to nip across the City and attend the match at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium – which kicks off at the earlier time of 6pm.

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