In anticipation of Wales’ clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday night, Wales coach Warren Gatland has told his side to smash their English counterparts, including the likes of Sam Burgess.
Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of Saturday’s game, Gatland said: “We won’t be trying to single out Sam Burgess at all”.
Whilst adding: “We will be going out there to smash him like everyone else”.
Burgess himself will be starting his first match of the World Cup, after coming on as a second-half replacement during the comprehensive win against Fiji on the opening night.
However, despite Burgess’ relative inexperience at international level in rugby union, Gatland insists that his experience in rugby league means that he understands what it means to play in a big occasion, as he will be when he lines up against Wales on Saturday night.
Gatland said of Burgess: “He’s got inexperience at rugby union, but not at big occasions.”
“We’re not rubbing our hands together about one player thinking there’s a weakness there – that is not the way we look at it.”
“When you underestimate a player, it comes back to bite you.”
Gatland will hope his side emerge victorious against England in what could prove to be a pivotal game to decides who qualifies from Pool A.
