DURSLEY ace Ben Morgan has left  England national coach Stuart Lancaster pleased despite missing out on selection for this weekend’s second World Cup warm-up clash with France in Paris.
Number eight Morgan came through unscathed after negotiating 40 minutes at Twickenham in his first appearance since breaking his leg in January as England toppled France 19-14 last Saturday.
And that should give the Gloucester star great encouragement that he will be included in England’s final party for the global tournament which kicks-off in less than four weeks time.
England and their medics are continuing to monitor Morgan closely and, while that means he misses out on the Paris trip, as he is not named in the 22-man squad, the fact that Lancaster is singing his praises is a real positive.
His exclusion means that former Thornbury number eight Billy Vunipola will get his chance to impress at the Stade de France.
But Lancaster explained his decision not to include Morgan, saying: “Ben came through fine (last Saturday). He was a bit sore but no more than you would expect.
“It was a big step for him to go out and play 40 minutes at international level having not played for eight months.”
But one Gloucester star who has made a big impression is wing Jonny May who has been included in the starting line-up for a second weekend after he was ousted from the Six Nations Championships this year.
Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees has another chance to impress Lancaster for the highly-competitive midfield pairing ahead of the final run-out against Ireland next month.
However, there is significant doubt whether Twelvetrees will make the cut for the World Cup, with Lancaster saying that the midfield quartet for the squad will go down to the wire.
Brad Barritt, who has a calf injury but would have been rested for the trip to Paris anyway, and Jonathan Joseph are the only certainties to be involved in the centre for the global showpiece on home soil.
Exeter’s Henry Slade, Bath’s cross-code convert Sam Burgess, Luther Burrell, of Northampton, and Twelvetrees will be fighting for the other two places
Harlequins’ Chris Robshaw returns to the England line-up to lead his country after sitting out the Twickenham victory over France.
Lancaster said: “Having reviewed last Saturday there were a lot of things we were pleased with considering it was the first game. There is now an opportunity for those not involved or who didn’t get much opportunity from the bench to put a marker down and build on that performance.
“France were very good last weekend and will be even stronger at home and this will be a big test but these guys have been working hard for the opportunity and are desperate to go out and perform.
“It is a big couple of weeks ahead for all the 39-man squad with the game this weekend and some competitive training sessions to come this week and next as we look to narrow down the squad ahead of the World Cup.”
England (v France, Stade de France, 8pm BST, Saturday): Mike Brown, Jack Nowell,  Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes,  James Haskell, Chris Robshaw (capt), Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, David Wilson, Dave Attwood, Nick Easter, Danny Care, Danny Cipriani, Billy Twelvetrees.