Thomas and Burrell included in England's RBS 6 Nations squad

Stuart Lancaster keen to get the England youth on display during this years Six Nations.

New boy Luther Burrell can form an England centre partnership with Billy Twelvetrees, according to head coach Stuart Lancaster.

England boss Lancaster has included Northampton centre Burrell as one of five uncapped players in his RBS 6 Nations squad.

Lancaster's remedy for eight high-profile injuries was to retain those crocked stars in his Elite Player Squad, while temporarily promoting a host of second-string England Saxons men for the Six Nations.

Burrell is among those to benefit, boosting England's midfield options with injured Leicester Tiger Manu Tuilagi unlikely to feature during the tournament.

Burrell has featured most frequently at inside centre for Northampton, which is Gloucester playmaker Twelvetrees' favoured role.

Lancaster is confident Burrell could slot in at outside centre though, basing his midfield partnerships more on complementary skills than pairing a definite 12 with a definite 13.

"I could easily see a scenario where Luther and Billy paired up," said Lancaster.

"In the same way that Billy played with Brad Barritt or Manu Tuilagi, you use one of the centres as someone who gets you across the gain line, and another who becomes an option to get you across the line but is also a second distributor and ball player.

"What we need to look at in terms of selection is who the best guy to defend at 13 will be.

"Luther's had plenty of experience doing that at Sale.

"I think they are the x-factor players we're looking for," said Lancaster.

"He's another exciting player.

"The trick is for them to have all the component pieces in place: they've got to be defensively strong, understand the system, the value of the kicking game and aerial skills and all that we'll have to coach into them in a short space of time.

"Within that they've got to come into an environment where there's a huge starting game in France away.

"But these players can certainly create those moments of magic that you need to unlock defences.

"It's hugely exciting long-term to have this group of players coming through together as a group.

"We're still developing as a team, we've still got some way to go to be ready for 2015, but long-term it's exciting.

England rookie Henry Thomas must prove his international calibre in a daunting RBS 6 Nations baptism of fire against France in Paris, according to head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Sale's 22-year-old tighthead has stepped into England's Six Nations squad, to offset injuries to British Lions scrum cornerstone Alex Corbisiero and Bath's David Wilson.

England boss Lancaster expects a calf injury to sideline Wilson until the third-round Six Nations clash with Ireland, on February 22.

And Lancaster has conceded Sale's highly-rated but extremely green two-cap prop Thomas must make big strides, and fast, before the Six Nations kicks off next month.

"Losing Davey Wilson is a big blow," said Lancaster.

"He will probably be fit for the third Six Nations game, the Ireland game.

"But Henry Thomas has spent a lot of time with us in camp a nd this is his opportunity now to prove he's ready for international rugby.

"There's no doubt about it, we need to develop more experience in the tighthead position."

Lancaster remains confident Thomas can handle the pressure of clambering off the bench into the final quarter against France's gnarled and wily scrum at the Stade de France.

"I think Henry will be alright," said Lancaster.

"When you put him alongside Dylan Hartley, Tom Youngs and with the likes of Joe Launchbury and Dave Attwood behind him, and then with someone like Tom Wood on the flank as well, he'll have a lot of experience around him."

Danny Cipriani is another talented fly-half yet to realise his international potential.

Lancaster acknowledged the 26-year-old's improving form at Sale, revealing he called the former Wasps star to let him know he had not made the international cut.

Challenging Cipriani to force his way onto England's summer tour to New Zealand, Lancaster said: "I had a long conversation with him on Wednesday, a good chat; I have watched all his games.

"He's been a lot more consistent this season b ut I want to leave him at Sale to keep making progress, which he accepted and he said he felt it was the right thing to do.

"I've said to him his goal has to be to get onto that New Zealand tour.

"There's certainly no issue with him as a person. There are some areas where he's got some ground to make up as we move towards the World Cup.

"He's beginning to make up that ground though, which is good."

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