Rugby World Cup: Ex-Irish centre slams Burgess

England’s build up to their do-or-die World Cup clash with Australia has been stung by the most savage criticism yet after former Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy delivered a brutal assessment of Sam Burgess.

Sam Burgess looks skywards as England start to melt in their crunch pool game with Wales at Twickenham.

But Burgess overnight tweeted to assure Williams that he did know who he was, and wishing him luck with his recovery from a knee injury which has ended the Welshman’s World Cup campaign.

Burgess was handed a spot in the starting lineup against Wales as a replacement for the injured Jonathan Joseph, but D’Arcy believes that his weaknesses were exposed after playing just 112 minutes of Test rugby prior to the game. “His naivety embarrassed those around him and severely damaged England’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals”.

Burgess, who switched codes from rugby league last October, was a surprise pick at inside centre and while England’s management have declared the selection a success, D’Arcy took the opposite view following detailed analysis of his performance.

D’Arcy said inside centre was such a unique position that it took him three years before he felt completely comfortable in the role, and to expect any significant contribution from the former league star in the number 12 jersey given his lack of exposure would be foolish. “To compound the problem, Brad Barritt was out of position at 13 and exposed accordingly when it mattered most”, D’Arcy wrote.

“Burgess’ skill-set hasn’t transferred to the position he is playing”.

“I thought Sam handled himself really well [against Wales] and played a few good footy”, Williams said. “And now we have proof”.

“Burgess never got to the pace against Wales”.

He also criticises Barritt, who he says was responsible for numerous defensive mistakes that cost England the match, and praises the “creative” Welsh attack that won them their only try.

There is no ruck so he timed the run off the scrumhalf and could get up a 10-metre head of steam and thunder into a player of his choosing.

He said that Burgess was replaced in the second half “because the England coaching team accepted, long after everyone else, that he had no idea what was happening around him”.