Chris Robshaw is confident the future looks bright for England under new head coach Eddie Jones, particularly with Saracens starlet Maro Itoje in line to earn his first full cap during the Six Nations.

The 21-year-old flanker can also play in the second row, and Itoje’s versatility and supreme talent has seen him come of age in high-flying Saracens’ first team this season.

Having led England to glory in the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in 2014, as well as Saracens to victories in the A league and LV= Cup last season, Itoje has already been widely tipped to be a future leader of both club and country.

And England’s World Cup captain Robshaw admits Itoje and his fellow newcomers in the squad could be the ones to make the biggest impact in the Six Nations – with Jones hoping to shake things up after the Red Rose’s dismal World Cup campaign.

“Maro Itoje at Saracens is one who is similar to Jack Clifford,” he said, speaking at the launch of the Chris Robshaw Testimonial Year as he celebrates ten years at Harlequins.

“Both have gone up another gear after breaking into their sides last season, and made themselves a real handful.

“I don’t know Maro that well, but played against him once or twice, and of course he was in the World Cup warm-up camps so we crossed paths there a bit.

“We played against him last week and he made life very hard for us, stopping our exits and stuff like that. I’m sure they’ve both got a good future.

“He’s difficult to play against which is what you want in the side, and he is one of the individuals that are going to be out there pushing to be included in the starting XV.

“As a player you want to be in that XV and if not on the bench doing as well as you possibly can for the side, and it’s going to be great to have so many people competing for those spots.”

England travel to a hostile Murrayfield next month for their opening Six Nations clash with Scotland, and following their own World Cup heroics Vern Cotter’s side could be going in as genuine favourites for the first time in years.

The first of Robshaw’s 42 tests as England captain came at the same venue, and after a turbulent five months he cannot wait to wipe the slate clean again in Edinburgh.

He added: “It’s always a fierce rivalry in the Calcutta Cup, and of course with the way that Scotland have been playing recently they will be a very tough team to play.

“They used to be a bit of a niggly side, but now they are playing a much more expansive game which should make for an exciting clash.

“I think the biggest thing for me is just making sure I am part of the team at Murrayfield and making sure one of the starting XV shirts is mine.

“It’s about being part of a successful team. For me, if I was reinstated as captain, I would of course be hugely honoured and love that role.

“But if he does select someone else then I will respect his decision and fully support that person that comes in.”

For more information about the Chris Robshaw Testimonial year, please visit the website at http://testimonial.chrisrobshaw.com/ or call the event office on 0203 7706982