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Wales will try to 'smash' Sam Burgess and England, says Warren Gatland

Image: Sam Burgess is set for some rough treatment from Wales

Wales will try to "smash" England centre Sam Burgess in Saturday's World Cup showdown at Twickenham, according to their coach Warren Gatland.

However, Gatland insists Burgess will only be getting the same treatment as his team-mates and will not be receiving any special attention in the Pool A clash.

League convert Burgess was a surprise inclusion in the England side after playing less than two hours of international rugby union.

"We won't be trying to single out Sam Burgess at all," said Gatland. "We will be going out there to smash him like everyone else."

Burgess finished his league career by leading the South Sydney Rabbitohs to victory in last year's NRL grand final, the showpiece game of Australian rugby league.

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Sam Burgess has been selected to start England's World Cup clash with Wales. Watch some of his big hits for his country here.

"He's got inexperience at rugby union but not at big occasions," Gatland added.

"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."

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Meanwhile, Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins believes England will not be weakened by picking Owen Farrell at fly-half in place of the more creative George Ford.

"They are both excellent players," said Jenkins. "Obviously George had a very good Six Nations, but Owen played very well against us in 2014 here [Twickenham].

"Farrell is a good overall player - excellent in defence. He is a great goalkicker and that might have edged it in his favour. They are lucky to have two quality 10s."

Jenkins is expecting strong Welsh support at Twickenham.

"I'm not sure how many points it's worth, but it's quite a few. If there are 20,000 here, the boys will thrive on that," he said.

"It is the game of the World Cup so far. We are looking forward to it. We hope they will be singing during the game and at the end."   

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