Head coach Steve Borthwick has urged his young England players not to “stay in the shadows” as they look to make history this summer.
Borthwick has named a 36-man squad for the tour of Japan and New Zealand.
But while there is an experienced core in the forwards, there is a green look to the backline with a handful of big names retired or injured.
“Sometimes the best thing you can do is jump right in”, Borthwick said.
In a wide-ranging interview on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Borthwick added: “I don’t want players in the shadows. I don’t want players thinking of not making a mistake. I want them coming on the pitch and trying to win, bringing their point of difference.”
'We lack experience but have great players'
Since the Six Nations, cap centurion Danny Care has retired from international duty, while Manu Tuilagi, with 60 caps, is now unavailable having signed for French side Bayonne.
96-cap fly half George Ford and the 66-cap Elliot Daly are both injured, leaving Henry Slade as the most experienced back, with 62 appearances, and Marcus Smith the second most with just 32.
But Borthwick has picked six backs from the champions Northampton including the uncapped Ollie Sleightholme, while Sale’s uncapped but in-form duo of Tom Roebuck and Joe Carpenter are also included.
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