Rugby league convert Sam Burgess is unlikely to break into the England squad in time for next year's World Cup, according to former England international Lewis Moody.
League star Burgess, 25, has agreed to join English Premiership side Bath from National Rugby League outfit South Sydney Rabbitohs and will arrive at the Recreation Ground on October 15.
He will initially be put to work in the centres, but with only a season to get to grips with the switch of codes, Moody believes he will struggle to secure a place in Stuart Lancaster's squad for the World Cup.
"There's a lot of interest and excitement around Sam's arrival, on how he'll fit into the Bath squad and what will happen with England," Moody, a World Cup-winner with England in 2003, told Britain's Press Association.
"Will they put him straight into the squad? With the way Stuart's been, I find it hard to imagine that they would include him straight away.
"Going back to 2003, Josh Lewsey hadn't played many games for England going into the Six Nations. So there's always a chance for him, but I think the World Cup will be far too soon."
Hosts England enter the World Cup on September 18 next year, but an extended training squad will be selected in July.
It is thought that Burgess will ultimately end up playing as a back-row forward, but Moody believes his skills would be better employed at centre.
"Back-row is such a technical position and there's such a lot to learn," said the former Bath and Leicester flanker, who was on Wednesday named director of rugby at his home-town club Bradford on Avon.
"It's not just broken-field play -- you've got the breakdown, scrum and line-out. I think back-row might be slightly too complicated, and will take some time to learn.
"Andy Farrell was moved between six and 12 when he came over from league and it didn't really fit.
"So if they just stick him at 12 and give him the opportunity to play and stick with that, then it will be far better for him than trying to move him into the forwards."
Source: AFP
