Sam Burgess claims ‘selfish’ England players led to 2015 Rugby World Cup failure, not Stuart Lancaster

The cross-code star has accused some of his former England teammates of allowing their ‘own agendas’ and ‘individual egos’ to derail the 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign

Sam Burgess has issued a stern defence of himself, Stuart Lancaster and Andy Farrell (Getty)

Sam Burgess has jumped to the defence of Stuart Lancaster and Andy Farrell over the 2015 Rugby World Cup failure, and claimed that “selfish” members of their England Rugby squad cost them any chance of home success due to their “own agendas” and “individual egos”.

The former Bath and England rugby union star, who returned to rugby league after an ill-fated year in the 15-man game, launched a passionate defence on Twitter after receiving messages from users who still blame him for the 2015 pool-stage exit.

England suffered defeats against Wales and Australia that consigned them to their worst ever performance at the World Cup, with Lancaster attracting criticism for drafting Burgess in at short notice and throwing him at centre straight into the side that faced Wales, despite playing in the back-row for Bath.

Following England’s exit, Burgess announced that he was returning to Australia to rejoin NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs, attracting further criticism for what was perceived to be him jumping ship.

The former Bradford Bulls forward has remained relatively coy on the subject of his cross-code move, but after seeing a series of tweets that criticised him for the 2015 performance – as well as Lancaster’s and Farrell’s return to the public eye due to their success in Ireland – Burgess issued a passionate defence.

“I seem to be getting a few tweets regarding the Rugby WC in 2015....still,” Burgess wrote on his Twitter account on Tuesday. “If people actually rewatched the games I participated in you will see I added to the team. What cost us an early exit was individual egos and selfish players not following our leader.

“Which essentially cost the coach and other great men their jobs. Tournaments are not won by the coaching staff or one player. It takes a commitment from the full group. I guarantee you this, I was committed but others had their own agendas. I have fond memories of my time in (rugby union) and some great friends.

“One day I will tell my side of the story but for now I love watching @EnglandRugby and cannot wait to see them as they prepare for the 2019 WC in Japan.”

Burgess also retweeted a post that noted that at the time he left the field during the 28-25 defeat against Wales, England were still leading, as Gareth Davies’ try a minute later changed the complexion of the match and swung the tie in Wales’ favour to set up Dan Biggar for the winning penalty five minutes from time.

Lancaster resigned as England head coach after the 2015 Rugby World Cup (Getty)

Lancaster was castigated for ditching his George Ford-Owen Farrell partnership and throwing Burgess in at short notice, and he resigned shortly after the tournament with the rest of his backroom staff of Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt axed to make way for Eddie Jones’ own team.

Farrell will replace Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach after the 2019 Rugby World Cup (PA)

Lancaster has since gone on the re-establish himself at Leinster, helping the Irish province to last season’s famous double as they win the European Champions Cup and Pro14 titles, while Andy Farrell joined Joe Schmidt’s Ireland side and was on Monday named as the New Zealander’s successor following next year’s Rugby World Cup. He also made his name as the defence coach on the triumphant 2013 British and Irish Lions tour and last year’s drawn series against New Zealand.