Former England rugby union captain Will Carling feels sorry for Sam Burgess

Will Carling feels "sorry" for Sam Burgess and has urged England to overlook him when they announce their World Cup squad on Thursday.

Head coach Stuart Lancaster will name the 31 players who will carry the nation's hopes at the global showpiece on home soil with all eyes on the names of Burgess and Luther Burrell, who have been duelling for one of the centre berths.

Burgess swapped league for union 10 months ago and made his Test debut in the 19-14 victory over France on August 15, executing two big tackles in a solid if unspectacular display.

Carling, speaking at Heineken's World Cup campaign launch, believes the 26-year-old was frequently caught out of position - a weakness he fears would be exploited by top teams.

"I'm in awe of Sam as a rugby league player, but there is no one that I have spoken to who I respect - ex-players, coaches - who thinks he's ready," the former England captain and centre said.

"I don't understand what the rush is and it's unfair on him. I feel sorry for him. If he wants to make it in union, there's plenty of time.

"He's been playing union for 10 months and half of that was in a different position to what England are playing him in.

"He'll hit you hard if he can line you up and he's a great guy, but I don't believe he's one of the four best centres in England.

"He was functional against France and wasn't a disaster, but there was nothing that made me think 'wow'. I thought Henry Slade had a far bigger impact than Burgess with his touches and the way he read the game.

"If you watched Burgess carefully he was out of position a huge amount in defence and England can't afford that against sides who will focus on him.

"He hasn't had time in the game. He doesn't understand where the ball is coming from and you can see that in the way his feet are when he lines up.

"The southern hemisphere boys will focus on him if he's playing. If (Australia centre) Matt Giteau plays against him... he'll sucker him on for the big hit and opponents will be coming from angles he doesn't understand."

Carling also questioned Lancaster's decision to cut Danny Cipriani from the World Cup squad after the Sale playmaker had produced an inspired cameo from the bench in Saturday's 25-20 defeat in Paris.

"Coaches have to make calls, but Cipriani wasn't given a chance. He didn't get a start, he didn't even get a half," Carling said.