Fifty-five days since switching codes Sam Burgess is not taking anything for granted when it comes to securing a place in England’s World Cup squad but the 26-year-old believes his call-up to the Saxons for the game against Ireland Wolfhounds on Friday week is another exciting landmark.
Burgess says he has been improving with each game since joining Bath but concedes there remain facets of the game to which he must adapt before he can consider muscling in on Stuart Lancaster’s squad. “I am really excited,” he said of the Saxons call. “It’s a great opportunity to get out and see what I can do within the English setup. It has been a steep learning curve for me. You learn in training but I think you do the most realistic learning on a game day. Certainly, as my minutes on the field have crept up, I think my performances have improved and I have got more game awareness. There is still so much to learn and so many things to improve on but I am really enjoying the transition. I am starting to understand the game a bit more.”
His understanding may be increasing but Burgess insists the best course of action for him is to simplify things, especially at the breakdown. There is a different mindset compared to league, he says, describing union as chaotic. “I try to look at it as simple as possible. If you do the simple things well, you put yourself in a good position. Understanding the breakdown of all the different areas of the game has been interesting. The skill level inside a game is unbelievable. It’s chaos out there on the field in terms of everything happening so fast. Every ruck is contestable.”
Brad Barritt is expected to start at outside-centre when England begin the Six Nations against Wales on 6 February because of Manu Tuliagi’s absence with a groin injury. The Saracens player says there is additional competition for places but not just at centre, where Burgess may be in direct competition with him later in the year.
“It’s a burning desire, something I think about every night,” Barritt said of taking ownership of the No13 shirt. “You are only custodian of that shirt for the day of a game but this is a huge opportunity to lay down a marker. There is such strength and depth across the board, from No1 to No15. There is a really high competition for places and I don’t think we need any more motivation to represent our country at the moment.”
Barritt, who has only recently recovered from the calf injury he sustained in the final autumn Test against Australia, also reckons there is an onus on England to perform in the Six Nations and make the game take notice that they are genuine World Cup contenders.
“This team is immensely hungry and motivated to be successful. You have to look after the body but you also must put yourself in the best frame of mind to represent England. Each opportunity you get is a dream come true and I can guarantee that every player will be giving it everything. That starts with the Six Nations, it is a competition which is the envy of the world, and one of our main tasks is to make teams take notice.”
Barritt made his return from injury in Saracens’ Champions Cup demolition of Munster last weekend, lasting 65 minutes of the 33-10 win. That victory set up a must win game at Clermont this Sunday, a challenge which he is relishing.
“I worked tirelessly to get back to fitness over Christmas and New Year to be back for these games. Sunday is an exciting prospect. The Munster performance was fantastic because they have always been one of the big-hitters but the way things have transpired, it was only a dress-rehearsal for this game. Having played Clermont already, we know it’s a huge task but one we are well prepared for.”
Brad Barritt was speaking at the launch of Flexiseq sport, the new drug-free treatment for professional athletes and other active people wanting to avoid joint pain and stiffness
