Notwithstanding the fact there is no such thing as "the defensive system in union", I haven't seen Sam miss a tackle as yet in his Union career, and I don't expect I will do.

Good for him..........im stunned the rfu just don't buy the entire england rl team and be done with jt if its that simple

Playing in the pack is a different story to playing in the backs though. You might find Union tedious and devoid of skill, but the set pieces and the breakdown are skills in their own right, and it would take years for a league player to perfect these things. What does set the league boys apart typically is handling, footwork and defence, which make up for any technical deficiencies they have. If you combined the England RU pack with the RL backs you'd have the best RU team in the world by a distance imo once the League players had settled in and learned the game.

I've also heard rumours about the Australian RU talking to some of the league boys about playing for the 7s team at the Olympics. Guys like GI would tear that competition to shreds.

Next season is the 150th year of both Hull FC and Bath. It would appear that as part of the celebrations there will be a cross code game. We haven't had one for a while. It will be interesting to see how Union has developed over the last decade now that League techniques are being used more and more.

Super sammy could well play 4 to 8 and 12 & 13......but front row, either half or he back 3 he'd be found wanting. If you want him to make a big impression the 12 or 13. If you want him injured, play him in the front row.

MZH, it will be interesting to see a cross-code game. i think both codes can learn from each other, RL 9s has been copied from RU 7s idea and groundwork so it works both ways.

There have been a number of cross code games in the past and they have all been literally games of 2 halves.
Despite what many think on here, Union cannot be grasped in a couple of training sessions, the rucking, mauling, lineouts and scrums are utterly different in the other code.
Equally, the speed, tackling, passing and defence is far superior in League.

A Union player has a great defensive game if they make 10 or 12 tackles, where the top league tacklers will make 30 plus tackles each game and the scrimmaging is just not an area that is comparable.

We had many years n our sport of cherry picking some of the Union boys and in a number of cases it worked well and now the boot is on the other foot and they are cherry picking some of League's best talent.

Because of the wealth of the Union game and the draw of playing much higher profile international competition, plus the desire for some of our top players to want to test themselves in "the other game", the trend is likely to continue.

Spot on.

Below is a list of Aussie, Kiwi and English Professional League Players who have switched to Union in the modern era (1995+) together with the position they played in Union.
Andrew Walker Wing/FB
Wendell Sailor Winger
Mat Rogers Centre
Lote Tuqiri Winger
Timana Tahu Centre
Israel Folau Winger
Barrie-Jon Mather Centre
Jason Robinson Wing
Andy Farrell Centre
Chris Ashton[32] Wing
Kyle Eastmond Centre
Joel Tomkins Centre
Sonny Bill Williams Centre
Brad Thorn Second Row
Lesley Vainikolo Wing
Craig Gower Fly-half
Shontayne Hape Centre
Tasesa Lavea Centre
Cooper Vuna Wing
Henry Paul Fly Half/Centre

Now, I know you like tails of Craig gower not showering because union wasn't hard enough to make him sweat, but the FACT is that of this list of 20 players, ONE BECAME A FORWARD IN UNION....and as I have already said, Thorn is a legend. Professional Rugby Union forwards are no longer the lumbering fat lard-'rses you like to laugh at.

Sam Burgess will be best suited to the role of centre.

Of course it would

The question here isn't about "twighlight" code switching, it's about top tier/international sport. The claim that Sam Burgess could play in any position is a false one and the list I posted does go some way to highlighting exactly how false, but you'd rather shift the goalposts further away from facts and instead make unsubstantiated claims as to top flight union being littered with League players grafting away in positions numbered 1-8.
Feel free to post a list of all the Aiva premiership, Rabo 12, Top 14, Super Rugby or Currie cup teams players who match your claim......

I'll even start it off for you
Leicester Tigers 0
Northampton Saints 0
London Irish 0
London Welsh 0

carry on....

There are still some hanging about.

That wasn't the claim earlier in the thread. The claim was that Sam Burgess is good enough to be able to get in the England RU team in any position HE CHOOSES.

Sam Burgess is the most talented rugby player to be produced in the UK in a generation. At least.

By common consent of all sensible people, he would choose to play for England RU in either the centres or back row. That will be determined once he has tried out different positions at club level.

Sam Burgess will certainly not choose to play international Rugby Union in either the front row or second row. For that game's own reasons, the qualities needed to be good in those positions are not qualities related to what rugby is really about. As per the OP; running, passing, tackling and kicking.

What Rugby is really about eh?
To run, pass or kick, you first have to win the possession. It is those blokes at 1 to 5 who you dismiss that do that for you in union. They may only make 3 tackles and 10 yards all game, but they are a key part of union.
As for 6,7 or 8......like Farrell before him, burgess will play where England's coaches tell him. He is gifted, but v McCaw or burger for a loose ball in the dark place that is the ruck and maul, he'd be made look very stupid very quickly.

Couldn't you find a picture Of George rose at manly???