Bath new boy Burgess in no hurry over union bow

 Superstar rugby union convert Sam Burgess will wait until he is fully fit before he makes his debut for English Premiership side Bath, he said on Thursday.
The 25-year-old is currently sidelined after fracturing his cheekbone and eye socket during his final appearance for South Sydney Rabbitohs in their NRL Grand Final win over Canterbury Bulldogs earlier this month.
Burgess, who has signed a three-year contract with Bath, was presented to the media at the Recreation Ground on Thursday and said he had not yet put a date on his return to action.
"Everyone is asking, but I really don't know. We will play it by ear," he said.
"I have had quite a lot of work done in my face and the surgeon said to me, 'Don't be silly.' We will make a smart decision over time with the medical staff here at Bath."
Burgess believes that his time on the sidelines could prove beneficial, as it will give him extra time to make the adjustment from rugby league.
"This could be a blessing in disguise to see the boys on the field," he told Britain's Press Association.
"Things could improve drastically, or it could take longer than expected. There is no time limit. We will see how it goes over the next few weeks in training and make the correct decision."
Bath's head coach Mike Ford has not yet decided where Burgess will play and the former Bradford Bulls forward says that he is relaxed about the issue.
"A few areas have been thrown around," he said. "If I am quite honest, I don't know where I am best suited. Over time, I think that will become clear.
- Outside noise -
"Nothing is set in stone, and there is no pressure on myself from Mike to do anything. I am just going to get in there, knuckle down and do my best."
On the subject of playing for England at the 2015 World Cup, Burgess added: "It is something I have no control over. There are always going to be outside influences that have their opinion.
"That's part of the game, part of the sport and part of the challenge, to ignore what is going on. In rugby league in Australia you are scrutinised in fine detail, so I have learnt a lot in five years over there.
"Hopefully, I can bring that here with me into my new career at Bath. Sometimes the greatest challenge of all is beating the outside noise, and once you find the key to that then it is quite easy.
"I am most looking forward to playing at the Recreation Ground. That's the first thing I want to tick off -- to run out, play for Bath and give it my all."
Ford added: "Sam will play when he is ready. We just don't know when that is.
"We have Newcastle in two weeks' time, and he could be right for that game, but it could be two months, which takes us into the new year. We have just got to make sure he is right."
Australia coach Michael Cheika believes playing at the World Cup is a realistic ambition for Burgess.
"I've been fortunate enough to have a bit to do with Sam back in Australia and he's a very good player," Cheika told a press conference in London on Thursday.
"If any player can make the World Cup from a zero base in the time he has, then he can. It's his hunger to learn and his individual skills that set him apart."
Source: AFP