England's woeful lack of progress in last year’s World Cup meant that Tony Smith, the head coach, had little choice other than to make sweeping changes to the squad for Saturday’s mid-season Test against France.

In that context, the selection of many of the country’s brightest young prospects might be seen as a sign of desperation. Most, however, will be encouraged by Smith’s readiness to turn to the next generation, players such as Salford’s teenage scrum-half Richie Myler.

Called up by Smith last autumn when he was still a National League player, Myler showed no signs of being out of his depth when making his debut in the World Cup warm-up match against Wales. This season he has continued to impress, scoring 10 tries as the newly promoted City Reds have steadily come to terms with Super League.

Opposing coaches have begun to single him out for praise, most notably Huddersfield Giants’ Nathan Brown after Salford unexpectedly beat the Giants at the Galpharm stadium three weeks ago, and with the young Widnesian’s contract due to expire next season, talk of a possible move to a “bigger” club has begun.

Questions about Myler’s future were greeted in time-honoured fashion last week. He would, he insisted, be concentrating purely on his rugby but acknowledged things were going pretty well.

“Super League has been tougher than National League but I wouldn’t say I’ve found it hard to adapt," he said. "I think my form has held up, but I’m playing with a lot of good players at Salford. We were a bit off the pace at the beginning of the season but it feels more like we’re up to speed now. We’re staying in games and giving ourselves a chance, and that’s obviously helping me.”

There is little doubt that Myler will be at the heart of what in international terms will be a remarkably inexperienced team. While only Leeds winger Ryan Hall, Wigan half-back Sam Tomkins and Huddersfield hooker Scott Moore are making their squad debuts, Wakefield centre Ryan Atkins and Hull Kingston Rovers winger Peter Fox have made only England two appearances, while centres Michael Shenton (Castleford) and Tony Clubb (Harlequins), Bradford prop Sam Burgess and Myler himself have just a single cap each.

Only forwards Jamie Peacock, James Graham, Adrian Morley, James Roby and Ben Westwood, along with stand-off Danny McGuire, survive from last November’s 32-22 World Cup semi-final defeat by New Zealand in Brisbane.

Graham, Morley and Westwood in particular are in prime form and against France should give the team sufficient go-forward to enable the young backs — among whom 26-year-old McGuire now appears a grizzled head — to express themselves. How many do so, and go on to retain their places for the Four Nations tournament later this season, remains to be seen, but Myler for one will believe he can.

France v England, 8pm Sky Sports 2