Robinson backs Burgess to shine

Burgess has been training at centre while on England duty ahead of the World Cup but he still might miss out on a place in Stuart Lancaster’s squad.

Bath Rugby head coach Mike Ford has said that Sam Burgess will remain a blind-side flanker at club level, despite England coach Stuart Lancaster saying that he will only be considered at centre for England.

“As a big name, you are under the spotlight massively when you move”, Robinson told Press Association Sport. He’s made great progress so far and the fact he’s in the training squad is an achievement but knowing him he’ll want to play in a World Cup. “Sam will want to be the same”.

And Ford, England’s defence coach under Martin Johnson at the last World Cup in 2011, says Lancaster’s approach makes sense as they need specialist jumpers “who have been doing it most of their lives”.

Robinson – an out-and-out speedster whose position was never in doubt – believes the ex-Bradford Bull can play in the centres.

Speaking at the Land Rover Experience Centre in Devon as part of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, Moody said: “He’s such an exciting player that I hope he can learn quick enough to prove that he’s got what it takes”. For him, he was a forward in league and there’s been a lot of chopping and changing.

England’s high-altitude training camp in Colorado has given the management the chance to assess him in direct competition with his rivals for the four centre berths in the final 31-man squad, which is announced on August 31.

The 26-year-old converted to rugby union from rugby league in 2014 but remains uncapped for the national side since the switch.

But he is yet to make his full worldwide debut since switching to rugby union, having played only for the Saxons in January, prior to the start of the Six Nations.

Burgess is believed to be behind Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph in the pecking order, meaning he is among a group of players looking to sneak into the final spots on the World Cup roster.

“It’s good for England to have lots of different options”.

Lewis Moody is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover is recruiting all 96 Official Rugby World Cup 2015 mascots as part of its We Deal In Real campaign.