Leicester Tigers head coach Heyneke Meyer believes that back-row duo Tom Croft and Jordan Crane are "good enough to play in any international team".

The South African has had only a couple of months to run the rule over two of Tigers' brightest prospects.

But he has seen enough to think the 22-year-olds can be among the best back-rowers he has ever worked with.

"I have been really impressed with them since I arrived," he said.

"I was fortunate enough to work with some of the best loose forwards in the world in Pierre Spies and Pedrie Wannenburg, and I have worked with Bobby Skinstad when he was at his best with the Stormers.

"The two of those guys (Crane and Croft) can definitely be up there with the best that I have coached.

"If they get more experience and keep improving in the way that I have seen in the last six weeks, I think they are good enough to play for any country at this stage.

"I am not saying that Martin Johnson (England team manager) should pick them, I just think they are good enough to play for any international team and they will be stars for the future."

Both men have started seven of Tigers' eight games so far this season.

But they will take a break from club action after Saturday's EDF Energy Cup clash in Cardiff to join up with the England Elite Player Squad (EPS).

Meyer thinks that they will do themselves and the club proud during England's autumn internationals against the Pacific Islands, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"I got really stuck into Jordan when I arrived and he has worked really hard on his conditioning," said Meyer. "He can be a really good player.

"Crofty has got something special and he reminds me a lot of Spies. He is involved in a lot of our best tries and you can't coach that.

"One thing you can't counter in any game-plan is speed. I like loose forwards who have a lot of speed because they add something special.

"Tom had two touches at the weekend in Treviso where he burst 50 metres. That's not coaching – that's being a game-breaker."