BBC Sportrugbyunion

The rangy blind-side was brought in for James Haskell against France and promptly put in a man-of-the-match display at Twickenham.

The 23-year-old Leicester Tiger was at the heart of England's new-look dynamism at the breakdown and a statistic of 13 turnovers to France's one will make sweet reading.

At 6ft 6in, Croft is a handy man to have at the line-out and his pace around the park is another bonus, nearly resulting in a try but for Delon Armitage's forward pass.

VERDICT: Not yet a regular England starter, but will give the selectors plenty to ponder.