England head coach Stuart Lancaster has told centre Sam Burgess that he has an opportunity to play himself into his Rugby World Cup squad when he faces France on Saturday.
Burgess will start alongside Henry Slade in England's midfield, and Lancaster admits that he is looking at options ahead of his squad announcement on August 31.
He said at a press conference: "Sam is ready for this opportunity, this is not the final selection, this is the opportunity. You can do as many training sessions as you like but nothing replicates the intensity of a game.
"This match will have a big bearing on [World Cup] selection. I am open-minded. It is time to look at options.
"It is about getting balance in the back line, between ball players, ball carriers and finishers. When you lose someone like Manu [Tuilagi], that physicality, that is the first thing. It is there to be looked at."
Burgess will make his England debut at Twickenham.
Charlie Bennett
