RELIABLE full-back Rob Cook can lead an extended cast-list of Gloucester stars claiming full England honours, believes Mike Tindall.
Gloucester's player/backs coach admits he was surprised the Cherry and Whites did not boast more than the four representatives who will tour Argentina with England next month.
The World Cup-winning centre had expected 21-year-old scrum-half Dan Robson to win full England elevation, especially given Ben Youngs' British Lions duties.
Gloucester boast number eight Ben Morgan, fly-half Freddie Burns, centre Billy Twelvetrees and wing Jonny May in Stuart Lancaster's England summer touring squad.
Former England captain Tindall will square up to his club colleagues this weekend, when the Barbarians clash with Lancaster's side at Twickenham.
England host the world-famous invitational side on Sunday (kick-off 1pm) before they head out to South America, with Tindall as player/coach, and departing Gloucester skipper Jim Hamilton in the squad too.
The Barbarians will continue their summer schedule by taking on the British Lions in Hong Kong on June 1, and have amassed a typically star-studded squad.
Tindall is excited by the Barbarians tour – but did concede he had anticipated going up against several more Gloucester team-mates against England this weekend.
Half-back Robson was one Tindall thought would step up, but he has also feels former Cornish Pirate Cook could handle an England call too.
"I always thought it could have been more than four," he explained.
"It's great to see Billy going, hopefully it gives him that chance to really cement himself in there, along with Freddie.
"And for Ben it's a chance for him to vent his frustrations after playing that first game and having that ankle problem against Scotland and then missing the rest of the Six Nations.
"Then Jonny has been hugely impressive this year when he's been fit, he had that tricky part with his knee and I think he's stepped up a level from last year.
"For me Dan Robson is someone who could well have been in that mix.
"It's a big challenge for him next year to step it up again, but I definitely think he's capable.
"And Rob Cook, Charlie (Sharples) and Henry (Trinder) have opportunities to put their hands up too.
"The great thing is everyone you name is English, and that's something that Gloucester have really bought into in the last few years."
Lincoln-born 28-year-old Cook racked up more than 1,000 points in three years with the Pirates.
The Worcester University graduate was one of new boss Nigel Davies' first signings last summer, to offset Olly Morgan's continued knee injury troubles.
Never just filling a quota though, Cook has quickly proved his top-flight class in becoming a first-team mainstay.
And with increasing counter-attack threat to add to defensive stability and high-ball solidity, Tindall believes Cook should be on England's radar.
He continued: "With Olly Morgan being injured we were in a tough spot around what we were going to do with full-back.
"Martyn Thomas did come in but we needed someone else.
"We looked at our kicking stats and Rob at 88 per cent in the championship, he filled that role.
"But he hasn't actually had to kick that much, but what he's brought everywhere else around his game, his solidity at the back, his decision-making, and line breaks for us, he's ended up being one of the players of the season for us.
"And that's been great for us really.
"There are a lot of good players in the Championship, it's just finding those that will take the opportunities if given.
"And Cookie's done exactly that.
"He's had to work hard, he's had to go extras this year, to raise his fitness levels.
"He has worked unbelievably hard on that and has earned the dividends he's got on the back of that.
"And I see no reason why he couldn't cope with international rugby.
"Obviously he'll need another standout season, but he's done extremely well in his first year, and hopefully that will only continue."
