Wednesday 22 April 2015 13:02, UK
England backs coach Andy Farrell says the country's younger players still have every chance of claiming a place in the World Cup squad.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster will name a 45-strong training squad for the tournament, which takes place on home soil, next month and a number of up and coming players have impressed in the Aviva Premiership in recent months.
The majority of the squad will come from those players who were included during the Six Nations, but Exeter Chiefs playmaker Henry Slade is a likely addition, possibly along with impressive Saracens lock Maro Itoje.
Itoje, 20, made his England Saxons debut earlier this term and produced a superb performance in his club's 13-9 Champions Cup semi-final defeat against Clermont on Saturday.
We'll do the right thing, because selection is so important, because it means so much to everyone involved; both players and coaches.
Farrell says England's coaches still have a host of decisions to make, with four more selection meetings still to come before they rubber-stamp the training squad.
"Maro would be a prime example of those fortunate that their club will be there and thereabouts in the big games at the end of the season," Farrell said.
"There's no bigger game for him to perform in than in the semi-final of the Champions Cup against the French giants of Clermont, and he performed outstandingly I thought.
"There's that type of player with potential all over the division, so we'll keep an open mind.
"People think you'd know round about what your squad would be - and of course we have a good idea of what that would look like, but we're also very open-minded and we always have been.
'Important'
"We'll do the right thing, because selection is so important, because it means so much to everyone involved; both players and coaches.
"Youngsters like Maro and Henry Slade who are shining through, it's because they have characters strong enough to deal with top-level rugby, that's why they are coming through so early. And that's what you need certainly at international rugby."
Lancaster must finalise his 31-man World Cup squad on August 31, but between now and then lies a two-week high-altitude training camp in Denver and several warm-up Tests.
Former dual-code international Farrell pledged the England coaching team will leave their selection calls open as long as possible, to give the players every last chance.
All that matters to us as far as selection is concerned is making sure that it's right for the squad.
"We've got at least four more meetings as far as selection is concerned," Farrell added. "We've always been a coaching staff that will bide our time and let things unfold.
"Experience tells us that you always shoot yourself in the foot anyway, and you're always wrong, if you try to presume things anyway. Whether form, injuries, there's always something that happens around the corner.
"All that matters to us as far as selection is concerned is making sure that it's right for the squad. Whatever makes them united as one and to feel right going into the World Cup, that's got to be at the forefront of our minds."
