Former England hero Dean Richards has backed unheralded Leicester flanker Tom Croft as a potential Test star.

Croft, the latest in a long line of quality back-row forwards to roll off Tigers' production line, scored two tries as Leicester smashed Richards' Harlequins 42-13 at the Twickenham Stoop.

England head coach Brian Ashton names a 32-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship on Wednesday - and Richards believes 22-year-old Croft could have a long international future ahead.

Ex-England number eight Richards said: "He is an outstanding talent.

"I think he is a really good player - he has everything.

"He might lack a little experience, but you could throw him into the England team and I don't think it would hurt the England team at all."

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