Burgess to start against Wales?

Even though the Rugby League Convert is still an international novice in the 15-man game, he could be in the midfield when England and Wales meet at Twickenham on Saturday.

Burgess has just 112 minutes of Test experience in Rugby Union, spanning three matches, but the centre could be on the field come kick-off against Wales if Jonathan Joseph is ruled out with a chest injury suffered in England's opening 35-11 opening win over Fiji last Friday.

The 26-year-old Burgess has played just one season of Rugby Union since helping the South Sydney Rabbitohs win Australia's NRL Grand Final, where he won the man-of-the-match award after playing on with a broken cheekbone.

But former England captain Will Carling, himself a former centre, said before the World Cup started he felt Burgess had been unfairly rushed into the Test squad.

Farrell, who like Burgess made his name in Rugby League, was adamant the Bath powerhouse, who has made just one Test start so far, would have no problems settling into England's 1st XV.  

"We were confident when we picked the 31-man squad that everyone could do a job for us and we have to make sure everyone is comfortable in starting," Farrell said at England's training base in Bagshot, south-west of London, on Tuesday.

"Everyone was talking about whether Sam was or wasn't going to be ready, but we know what we see every week in training and we back everyone if they were to be picked in the starting team."

Finding a settled midfield pair has proved a problem for England ever since their 2003 World Cup-winning partnership of Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall came to an end.

Indeed current England coach Stuart Lancaster has got through 13 different centre combinations alone since taking charge in 2012.

England have the experienced Brad Barritt, best known as a defensive midfielder in their squad, along with talented Exeter playmaker Henry Slade who, by contrast, has just one cap to his name after impressing alongside Burgess in a warm-up win over France at Twickenham last month.

But given how a desire to make sure the team is defensively solid often trumps attacking flair in matters of England team selection, it would not be a surprise to see Owen Farrell, the son of Andy and primarily a fly-half, shifted to midfield to play alongside Saracens team-mate Barritt when Lancaster names his team to play Wales on Thursday.

Barritt was not at his best against Fiji, a match where Burgess caught the eye after coming off the bench, but Andy Farrell said: "Brad's first game of the warm-ups against Ireland was very good, but like a few others on the weekend he was a little bit quiet.

"But he's a big game player and can make a massive difference so we can expect a big performance from him."

Ever since the draw was made in 2012, creating a 'Pool of Death' also featuring two-time champions Australia, there has been a huge sense of anticipation surrounding this weekend's clash between old rivals England and Wales.

But Andy Farrell said form, and the fact that Wales, who started their World Cup with a 54-9 win over Uruguay last weekend, had seen several backs ruled out of the tournament through injury would count for little on Saturday.

"Everyone has been looking forward to this for years now. Predictions and form in games like this go out the window," Farrell explained.

"It's about making sure we get our preparation right and emotionally being in the right place to put in the performance of our lives."

* Apart from centre Jonathan Joseph, England are also waiting on the fitness of  back row forward Ben Morgan.

Joseph suffered a blow to his chest during England's 35-11 opening win over Fiji at Twickenham last week.

Morgan is trying to overcome a knee injury.

England are to announce their team to play Wales on Thursday.

"Jonathan has a bit of a knock, nothing too serious and our medical staff are working extremely hard behind closed doors to get him fit for selection," Farrell told reporters.

"We will give him every chance to put an England shirt on this weekend.

"It's something and nothing. He has got a knock on his chest. If he is fit for this weekend, we will know by tomorrow (Wednesday) internally. If he is not fit it will not be more than a week anyway probably.

"Ben has a little bang on his knee that isn't serious at all.

"We don't need to rush. We need to take our time and give everyone the best possible chance of being fit."

Agence France-Presse