SBW v Burgess in the backs

 

Like All Blacks back Williams, Burgess has moved from Rugby League to the 15-man code.

 

After being a key force in the South Sydney Rabbitohs' drive to this year's NRL title in Australia, Burgess is now taking his first tentative steps in Rugby Union with English club Bath, and there have already been suggestions he's a contender for next year's World Cup.

 

He's tipped to play for the England Saxons backup team and there could be pressure to get him involved in February's Six Nations campaign.

 

Most of the interest centres on whether he will play as a loose forward or a back.

 

Both Williams and Burgess played in the forwards in Rugby League with plenty of comparisions being drawn between the two and a fierce rivalry naturally developing.

 

Another code-hopper, Shontayne Hape has dubbed Burgess as "Great Britain's Sonny Bill" and as such it is unsurprising that Williams would like to square off against his old rival in the centres.

 

Williams, who won the 2011 World Cup with the All Blacks and a Super Rugby title with the Chiefs before another stint in NRL, where he also won a title with the Roosters last year, has little doubt Burgess has the talent to succeed.

 

"From an England perspective I'm pretty sure he'll go well," Williams told Radio Sport.

 

"It's a matter of time – how long it will take to pick up – because he's a world-class athlete. I've got no doubt he will, but it's just a matter of how long.

 

"I think leading into the World Cup it'll be good for him, for his peace of mind, to nail down what role they want him to [have] and I think it's in that backline at first."

 

Williams was comfortable with his own return to Rugby Union after a busy year-end tour.

 

He made a quick transition from league to union to turn out for Counties-Manukau at the end of the NRC and then made three appearances for the All Blacks on their November tour.

 

"Just being able to be back in there and obviously rekindle some relationships and friendships and things like that has been awesome," Williams said.

 

"There's a great culture and a lot of special things go on inside that environment that you really miss.

 

"Not too much has changed in the All Blacks environment, just the professionalism has gone up another level and the greatest thing I find and enjoy about the environment is that every tour's there for you to become a better player."