Martin Corry insists the England team will begin to realise their enormous potential over the coming years.
Corry's name will be missing when head coach Brian Ashton unveils his 32-man squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship at lunchtime today after announcing his international retirement.
But the Leicester number eight, 34, predicts a glittering future for a side that he believes should be in pole position to reclaim the World Cup in 2011.
"I see everything in place for England to be very successful," he said.
"There's an agreement now between England and the clubs. Everything seems to be pointing to a successful England side.
"Building on from the World Cup, we're really looking forward with a huge amount of optimism.
"Now I'm an England supporter and I'm looking at these games in the Six Nations with real relish. England have got huge potential.
"We've got to produce a series of good Six Nations, summer tours and autumn internationals so that when the next World Cup does come around, we're up there and we're actually ranked number one."
Ashton will include a host of gifted youngsters in his squad with names such as Danny Cipriani, Tom Croft and James Haskell set to feature.
Corry, who won 64 caps in a decade-long Test career, believes it is time the nation's emerging prospects are let loose on the Test arena.
"England have got a huge amount of youngsters coming through," he said.
"You just have to look at Leicester and our fantastic academy.
"Week after week, these guys show what they can do on the Guinness Premiership and even Heineken Cup stage.
"Hopefully they will get the opportunity to show what they can do on the international stage.
"We've got a huge amount of talent in England."
The spate of retirements by former England captains - Mike Catt, Jason Robinson and Lawrence Dallaglio have also bowed out - has robbed Ashton of invaluable experience and leadership.
He may be about to lose one more too with Matt Stevens' magnificent form for Bath ensuring Phil Vickery is no longer guaranteed his place at tighthead.
Vickery led England during the World Cup but if Ashton opts for Stevens he must look for a new skipper with Gloucester centre Mike Tindall the likely choice.
Tindall was coy, however, when asked about his chances of being handed the captaincy.
"Obviously if you got that call, it would be the biggest honour you could receive in the game," he told BBC Sport.
"But I'll be happy just to make the squad in the first place, and then we can go from there."
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