Last updated at 12:06, Thursday, 12 July 2012

Rob Miller has set his sights on playing in the 2015 Rugby World Cup after being named in the England Saxons squad.

Robert Miller

Sale Sharks’ Cumbrian full-back took a massive leap towards his dream of winning his first full cap when he was named in the second-string Saxons squad for next season.

It capped a dream 12 months for Miller after the jet-heeled 22-year-old from Bothel played a starring role for Sale and finished top try scorer in the Aviva Premiership after crossing the whitewash 12 times.

He is now preparing for a training camp with the rest of the Saxons squad next month, and hopes some impressive displays for the second-string next season will propel him into Stuart Lancaster’s full squad.

Lancaster is a huge admirer of his fellow Cumbrian and was close to taking him on the three-Test summer tour of South Africa.

Miller’s emergence as a future star could not have come at a better time as Lancaster has shown he is prepared to put his faith in young players as he builds a squad for the 2015 World Cup on home soil.

“i was really pleased to get the call as getting into the Saxons squad is a crucial next step in my development towards where I want to get to,” said Miller.

“Every player wants to play for England and it’s important that I perform well every week. You see the England boys in the Premiership and they are consistently performing well.

“The way the England set-up seems to be going a lot of young lads are being brought into the system, which is really positive.

“A lot of young lads went on the summer tour and it would be awesome to be selected for the next World Cup.

“There is a clear message that if you are performing well, you will be a given a chance and that is fantastic for young lads.

“It’s a great confidence boost to make the Saxons squad and it is nice to be recognised.”

Miller has had a brief taste of the Saxons squad when he was called up as cover for their second-string Six Nations clash with Scotland last season, but missed out on the game.

He already has a string of caps at Under-16, 18 and 20 levels, and played at the 2010 Under-20 Junior World Championship in Japan, but it was his switch from fly-half to full-back following his arrival at Sale from Newcastle Falcons that transformed his game.

Lancaster has kept close tabs on the youngster, who came through the ranks at Aspatria Rugby Club, and his Saxons selection is reward for a series of eye-catching displays to help revive Sharks.

Lancaster watched him score a match-winning try to secure a vital 16-9 win over Bath in April and, two weeks later, he scored a brace either side of half-time in a 24-19 victory over Gloucester, earning a nomination for the Aviva Premiership Game Change of the Year award.

Miller said: “I don’t go out with the aim of scoring as there is a lot of work to be done on other areas of the pitch, but it is always a bonus.

“Our forwards took a lot of credit last season and their work allowed us backs to get a quick ball and move around the pitch.”

First published at 11:29, Thursday, 12 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk