If you think SB can do 'just as well' (your words) in a couple of games what BOD could do you are quite deluded. For a start Bod could kick, he also didn't need to be told where to stand defensively (by both Slade and Barritt in both games, if you went on RU forums you'll see fans from both sides commenting on this basic error). You're right, Barritt isn't known as a good kicker, hence why I said he wouldn't be in the worlds top 50 centres (and you said I don't like accuracy or reading much?). You also never answered why 2 Irish ex-players would be 'anti-league' when, coming from Ireland, they wouldn't give a rats about a regional sport in England. Mainly because it blows your theory that it's because they are 'anti-league' (to use your term) rather than that they might actually be telling the truth. And not only does Lancaster think the same about SB's lack of nous in playing in the centres (because he's DROPPED him), but Mike Ford at Bath was so unimpressed with his centre play that he moved him to number 6 and has no intention of moving him back to centres. I suppose Mike Ford is 'anti-league' too is he?

You think you provided a strong case? Only in your dream-world

"...able to do most of what they did..... as well" Why can't you quote accurately?

Inside Centre play includes tackling with a strong physical presence, putting your side on the front foot by crossing the gain line often in heavy traffic, running dummy running lines to fix defenders, being strong in the breakdown area, being able to offload in tight situations, backing up with good angled runs and having a strong presence. These are the basics and of course there are other skills like kicking. But as I said Burgess in his limited international game time so far has shown that he has this basic and important skill set and his mistakes have been minimal and not crucial. He has not been outplayed and has made a game changing impact when he came on as a sub and in fact has been better than the 'experience and ready' Barritt who is England's first choice inside centre.

So for you and others to pretend that his selection is in anyway a reason for the loss against Wales or was wrong is arrant nonsense and one can only presume in the absence of facts to disprove my points you have an agenda against Burgess.

https://youtu.be/9JLASzADsaI I'm a Sam burgess fan, but he's not even close. England made a bad decision in picking him for the wales game....not his fault.

https://youtu.be/9JLASzADsaI I'm a Sam burgess fan, but he's not even close. England made a bad decision in picking him for the wales game....not his fault.

I haven't said his selection was responsible for the loss against Wales, why do you make things up?

You also say that SB is strong at the breakdown, that shows that you are making it up as you go along, he was hopeless at the breakdown as well as kicking, which according to you are two of the basics. I also notice that you didn't mention his paucity of any positional sense of where he was supposed to stand, especially at lineouts, which should be a pre-requisite for any international centre. You never did answer my question asking if Mike Ford is 'anti-league' because he agrees with BOD and D'arcy that SB is not even a centre at club-level because he moved him to flanker and won't play him at centre again. I ask you again: is Mike Ford anti-league for thinking SB isn't a centre? You want there to be an agenda against Burgess because you want RL to be that important, but unfortunately for you it isn't.

Spot on, in time SB could be a handy International player but I and many others think at 6. Over the years BOD given us (Wales) a few beatings but I don't know anyone who doesn't admire him. He's a legend. For anyone to think SB is anywhere near BOD is just laughable.

Stop talking to yourself you strange strange bore

Foran is out for anyone interested in rugby league! Surely an easy romp for England now?

At home and NZ without Johnson and Foran, I would have England down as favourites, not sure about easy, they are still ranked number 1 in the world.

Series will be a cracker..,.....

You haven't mentioned the one-trick pony Farrell playing poop tonight and getting sent to the bin for his pathetic 'tackle' and costing England any chance of winning the game, but of course form isn't something you notice is it?

Threads like this bring in advertising revenue so the mods will be told to leave them up and not to interfere. It's sad really as this used to be a good, busy forum but these days, mainly due to one very odd poster from New Zealand derailing thread after thread via his numerous aliases, it's degenerated into an RU v RL borefest with hardly anyone posting any more.

If you want real RL talk probably best to find a different forum or use Twitter like many of us are doing these days.