A handful of Saracens players could reportedly miss out on World Cup selection as England head coach Stuart Lancaster prepares for his largest cull of the training squad this Friday.

Those most likely to miss out, according to the Daily Mail, are Chris Ashton, Jamie George and George Kruis.

Ashton is competing with Marlande Yarde, Jonny May and Semesa Rokuduguni for the remaining places on the wing behind Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson; who solidified their positions in the starting line-up after impressing during Six Nations.

In the pack, George will be vying for the final hooking berth with Luke Cowan-Dickie, as Tom Youngs found himself the clear first-choice after Dylan Hartley’s dismissal for disciplinary reasons.

And Kruis, according to reports, may be in competition with Geoff Parling and Dave Attwood for the two backup positions behind Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes in the second row.

If they were to be omitted they would join Maro Itoje – who was cut last month before the squad left for the Denver training camp – on the list of Saracens to be released from the squad.

Even so, Sarries will continue to be well represented as the likes of Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell, Alex Goode, Billy and Mako Vunipola and Richard Wigglesworth are all believed to be safe in making the final 31-man squad, which has to be submitted to World Rugby on August 31.