Sam Burgess has been named in England's Rugby World Cup squad, completing a remarkable rise since converting from rugby league just 10 months ago, while Henry Slade has also been selected meaning there is no place in the 31 for Luther Burrell.
As widely reported on Wednesday Danny Cipriani has not made the cut despite an impressive cameo off the bench against France last weekend while the British and Irish Lions loosehead Alex Corbisiero, beset by fitness problems of late, also misses out to Kieran Brookes – a tighthead by trade but able to cover both sides of the scrum.
Ben Morgan, despite playing just 40 minutes of competitive rugby since breaking his leg in January, has held off the challenge of Nick Easter, another to impress off the bench in Paris along with Jamie George, who has earned himself the third hooker spot by virtue of his composed lineout throwing at the Stade de France. In the second row, George Kruis has pipped Dave Attwood to one remaining berth.
“It’s really positive that we have such depth and options to choose from. Selection wasn’t easy and it is tough to leave anyone out but it’s important to stress that the players not in this group are still part of our wider squad and could come in at any point,” said Lancaster.
“After 10 weeks in camp we have made our final selection of players and we believe we have a great group to take us into the tournament. With three weeks to go before we play Fiji we believe we are in good shape as we head into next Saturday’s game against Ireland.
"As the excitement builds around the tournament we are looking forward to the country getting behind England and we know this group of players will represent the nation with pride."
The former captain Will Carling became the latest ex England player to question Stuart Lancaster’s faith in Burgess on Wednesday, insisting that their World Cup rivals would take advantage of a player with just one Test cap to his name and having made only 17 appearances for Bath, the most impressive of which coming at flanker.
“I don’t understand what the rush is and it’s unfair on him. I feel sorry for him. If he wants to make it in union, there’s plenty of time,” said Carling. “He’s been playing union for 10 months and half of that was in a different position to what England are playing him in.”
Burgess’s solitary Test appearance came in the 19-14 victory over France earlier this month and, bringing a physicality to the side that was absent in the defeat to Paris a week later, he formed an eye-catching midfield partnership with Exeter’s Slade, another who was making his debut and impressed enough to earn selection.
Lancaster insisted though that Burgess had been included on merit. He said: “I wouldn’t describe it as a gamble. I understand the size of this decision, but I understand the size of every decision when you’re in a World Cup year. Every one is a big one.
“He’s done great. He’s earned the right. He’s picked on merit from what we’ve seen in the camp.
“I can reassure everyone that 100 per cent in training everybody has had an opportunity to put themselves forward,”
Lancaster added that Cipriani’s omission had been “tough”.
“With only two warm-up games, it’s difficult. It’s tough on Danny (Cipriani). He is a good player. We think he’s improved an awful lot.”
There has also been speculation Dylan Hartley could be brought into the squad if England have a hooker withdraw, even though the Northampton forward is banned for the early part of the tournament.
Lancaster would not entertain the hypothetical question. “The reality of the situation is we weren’t responsible for Dylan getting cited or getting banned but the reality is he is banned.
“We’ve got to put our time and energy and belief into the three hookers in the squad. I’m not going to spend my time thinking ‘could Dylan be here’. The reality is he can’t.”
England’s Rugby World Cup squad
Full-backs: Brown (Harlequins), Goode (Saracens)
Wings: Nowell (Exeter), May (Gloucester), Watson (Bath)
Centres: Joseph (Bath), Barritt (Saracens), Slade (Exeter), Burgess (Bath)
Outhalves: Ford (Bath), Farrell (Saracens)
Scrum-halves: B Youngs (Leicester), Care (Harlequins), Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Hookers: T Youngs (Leicester), Webber (Bath), George (Saracens)
Props: Marler (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), Cole (Leicester), Wilson (Bath), Brookes (Northampton)
Second-rows: Lawes (Northampton), Launchbury (Wasps), Parling (Exeter Chiefs), Kruis (Saracens)
Flankers: Haskell (Wasps), Robshaw (Harlequins), Wood (Northampton)
No 8s: Morgan (Gloucester), B Vunipola (Saracens)
