hi clearwing i'd agree with u upto a point, but for every jason robinson, theres a joel tompkins. But sams in good hands at Bath so fingers crossed

Thanks. I'd forgotten that Joel Tomkins played for the England RU team. Was just about to do a list of ex Rugby League players who have also played for England RU since the end of shamateurism. Just off the top of my head:
Barrie-Jon Mather
Jason Robinson
Henry Paul
Shontayne Hape
Lesley Vainikolo
Andy Farrell
Chris Ashton
George Ford

I might have missed some

I think they all did pretty well actually. There will always be the stephen jones types who WANT a failure but for most England union fans I know, a winning side is more important than how a player holds his knife an fork.

One union player who i did enjoy watching when i was growing up was Phillipe Sella.

In one interview he revealed he played League upto the age of 13, and said "thats where i learnt to tackle"

I know it wasn't for England but there is also Iestyn Harris.

Everyone has done it,

Garry Connolly, Robbie Paul & Henry Paul all seamlessly switched into Union during their League off season and murdered the opposition. Will Carling described Connolly as the best back he had ever seen in his life while One opposition coach who had just watched his team get roasted by Robbie Paul said he'd never seen anyone with footwork and agility to match Paul.

Vainikolo, Hape, Robinson, Burrell, J Tomkins, Eastmond, Ashton & even a knackered old prop with dodgy knees who's League career was over due to his inability to handle the physical demands anymore called Andy Farrell all played for England in the backs after just a handfull of games.

I'm half expecting to see Adrian Morley and Jamie Peacock turn out in the centres for the England Rugby Union team.

Burgess will stroll into the England team in any position he decides he wants to!

Any position in the three quarters.
He wont be playing prop and it's unlikely that he will be in the pack, although No. 8 could be ideal for him !

Any position he decides he wants to

SBW played 7 minutes in total in the rwc semi and final. Burgess will need time to adjust to the defensive system in union.......no matter how one eyed some posters on here are.

SBW would also stroll into the England RU team. The New Zealand team is a different story, but then again, the person you quoted didn't mention NZ.

I wasnt going to bother responding to the insanity of the any position claim. instead i compared apples for apples as both burgess and williams will play in the same position.....