‘Perplexed’ England veteran Simon Shaw questions Sam Burgess’ inclusion in World Cup squad

Former England lock Simon Shaw said he was bewildered that inexperienced code-hopping centre Sam Burgess had made the final cut for coach Stuart Lancaster’s World Cup squad.

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England’s Sam Burgess tries to offload in the tackle against Ireland at Twickenham last weekend. Three-time World Cup veteran Simon Shaw says Burgess "looked scared and like he didn’t know what the hell was going on". Photo: AP

Published: 9:00am, 11 Sep 2015Updated: 12:47pm, 11 Sep 2015

Former England lock Simon Shaw said Thursday he was bewildered that inexperienced code-hopping centre Sam Burgess had made the final cut for coach Stuart Lancaster's World Cup squad.

Shaw, a veteran of three Rugby World Cup campaigns, said the rugby league convert looked “scared” when he came on as a replacement in England’s final warm-up game against Ireland.

“I’m completely perplexed,” Shaw said in an interview on the sidelines of a Hong Kong Rugby Union charity dinner.

“He’s not been given enough of a chance to prove himself. Why not play him as much as possible in the three [warm-up] games to see if he’s capable?

Simon Shaw had plenty to say about Sam Burgess during a charity dinner in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: AFP

“He’s played 80 minutes and come off [the bench] again at the weekend and that’s it.”

Shaw, 42, was a late call-up for the England World Cup-winning squad in Australia in 2003 though never played in any match.

He featured in 2007 when England lost the final to South Africa, and bowed out of international rugby after the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.