Sam Burgess' hopes of making the Rugby World Cup could be extinct after 80 minutes of Six Nations rugby in Dublin this weekend.

England travel to Ireland for the tournament's pivotal fixture and if England win - and particularly if their midfield performs - you can close the door on Burgess' RWC chances. Already he is, by my reckoning, seventh choice among the midfield candidates for an England RWC squad that may carry only three.

Those of the league persuasion will be aghast at the implication. One of their heroes - a titan in Souths' premiership win - being forced to wait in line behind rugby players, and English ones at that.

Aren't they all a bunch of plodders who kick the ball all day? Well, occasionally, but not exclusively. Like it or not, there are English midfielders with better pace (Jonathan Joseph), footwork (Kyle Eastmond), vision (take your pick), defensive ability (Brad Barritt) and even power (Manu Tuilagi) than Burgess.