Training squad choices will leave all doors open

Commentary

The World Cup training squad to be announced today appears to give a message
to those who have not yet played for England and possibly did not think that
they were very close to it: you have an opportunity.



A number of uncapped players are expected to be announced in the squad of 50 —
Henry Slade, Elliot Daly, Maro Itoje, Luke Cowan-Dickie and, of course, Sam
Burgess will be named — which is a considerable figure to have.



A year ago, when Stuart Lancaster, the England head coach, was taking a large
squad to New Zealand, it had appeared that that