Six Nations: Stuart Lancaster hails England's bright new generation

Stuart Lancaster insists England now have more star players in their ranks than at any other time in his three-year tenure.

Centre Jonathan Joseph and wing Anthony Watson both scored in last week's pulsating 21-16 victory in Wales and Lancaster is particularly excited by the prospects for the latter.

The England coach said: "I believe Anthony could be exceptional for us. He's still growing and he's still only 20. He's been a real find in the last six months.

"He's been thrown in at the deep end as an international player. He does the basics exceptionally well and his aerial skills are exceptional. He's big, tall and athletic and we've yet to put him in too much space in the games - and that's his point of difference."

Lancaster believes it takes players with exceptional skills to make the difference at the highest level.

He said: "I do think we have more now - guys like Joseph, Watson, Ben Youngs and George Ford and further down the line there will be others who come into the equation like Manu Tuilagi, who has been developing a tactical perspective while he has been injured."

Watson, who as a teenager had trials at Chelsea, explained that he he has benefited from working with mind coach Don Macpherson.

He said: "A year ago I would have been massively nervous going into a hostile environment like the Millennium Stadium, but on Friday I had that perfect balance between calm and excitement.

"I was ready to go out there, confident in myself that I'd done all the work I needed to in the week. All I had to do was go out and perform. I can't stagnate as a player now, I have to keep striving to get better.

"Friday has given me confidence, but so too has the way I have been gradually drip fed into the international scene. I'm trying to take things in my stride. We have the ammo in our armoury to attack teams on all fronts, we just need to make sure we capitalise on the opportunities."