Burgess, who spent the first few weeks of his time back in England recuperating from the fractured cheekbone and eye-socket injury sustained in the first minute of the National Rugby League Grand Final in Sydney, had not been expected to start his union education until mid-to-late December. However, his progress in training has been such that Bath have had no qualms about pitching him into the starting slot for the return fixture against a French side that are likely to arrive with a weakened side after three successive defeats in Pool 4. Even so, Burgess will be exposed to a different level of intensity when playing from the first whistle. Bath have no doubts about his ability to cope.