Martin Johnson has been urged to blood more youngsters before time runs out on England's 2011 Rugby World Cup preparations.

Ben Foden marked his first Test start with a try and impressive all-round display in England's 12-10 defeat to France on Saturday while Chris Ashton make an encouraging debut on the wing.

France's defence coach Dave Ellis, who also works at London Irish, believes those performances should encourage Johnson to stick with the youth policy for this summer's tour to Australia.

"England have to bite the bullet and throw some young players in," said Ellis.

"They have a tough tour ahead but they have nothing to lose in the southern hemisphere.

"They should give young players a go and see how they come out at the other end. Whether they have got enough time to get it right for the World Cup, only time will tell.

"They aren't far away from being a good side. They had a go when they had nothing to lose but there is no good waiting until the championship is gone to do that."

Johnson has not been afraid to bring in new players, having awarded 20 debut caps in the 19 Tests since he officially took charge in 2008.

But the England boss is wary about just throwing youngsters into the team, arguing the unforgiving world of Test rugby could "chew them up and spit them out the side" if they are not ready.

Foden's supporters have been arguing for over a year that he should be given a chance but Johnson insisted England had managed his introduction to Test rugby well.

Leicester tighthead prop Dan Cole enjoyed an impressive tournament, the Worcester loose-head Matt Mullan made his Test debut in the championship as did Tigers scrum-half Ben Youngs.

But an extended five-match summer tour provides Johnson with an ideal opportunity to work closely with England's rising stars.

Johnson will take 44 players Down Under, where they face two Tests against Australia, two against the Australian Barbarians and one against the New Zealand Maori.

It will be a key trip for newly-capped stars like of Foden, Ashton, Cole and Lawes but invaluable for those on the fringes of senior selection like the Saracens pair Andy Saull and Alex Goode.

Ashton, who was an England rugby league international before moving to Northampton, is desperate to be involved in Australia having tasted the rarefied atmosphere of Test rugby union.

"It is what every player wants to do and I have got a chance to do that now and I am not going to let it go," said Ashton.

"It is a different scale, playing in front of 80,000 people at the Stade de France. This is where I want to be every time that England play. I felt as if I just slotted in.

"I am looking forward to the tour. I have keep playing at Northampton and hopefully I will get onto it."