Burgess to make England debut at centre
Stuart Lancaster has selected his squad for the first of two Rugby World Cup warm-ups against France.
Sam Burgess will make his England debut at inside centre in the first of two Rugby World Cup warm-ups against France on Saturday.
The code-hopper, who has previously featured for the second-string England Saxons, ended last season as a regular in the back row with Bath, but will make his international bow at centre alongside another debutant, Exeter Chiefs' Henry Slade.
Northampton Saints flanker Calum Clark is also included for the first time, while uncapped Exeter forward Luke Cowan-Dickie is among the replacements.
Tom Wood captains the experimental XV, while Ben Morgan returns from a broken leg to play his first Test since November 2014.
"We are really excited to play our first QBE International at Twickenham and to put into practice some of what we have been working on for the last six weeks," said England coach Stuart Lancaster.
"The lads are itching to get out and play a match and these games give us a chance to look at a wide range of players and combinations before we narrow down our selection further.
"Tom is one of several leaders in the squad and he captained the team well in Argentina when Chris Robshaw was rested so this is an ideal opportunity to take the armband at Twickenham against what will be a quality French team.
"I'm delighted for the new caps and for Ben Morgan, who has worked so hard to get back to fitness following his injury."
Team in full: Alex Goode, Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Sam Burgess, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Rob Webber, Kieran Brookes, George Kruis, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Calum Clark, Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Alex Corbisiero, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, James Haskell, Danny Care, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees.










