By Jack Skelton – Sportsbeat

BEN Morgan is battling to be fit in time for the World Cup but Neil Back believes the Gloucester man could yet be England’s X-factor in the tournament.

Morgan was ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his left leg playing for Gloucester against Saracens in January and faces a fitness race to be ready for his country’s World Cup opener against Fiji on September 18.

The 26-year-old impressed during England’s autumn internationals and was tipped to start at No.8 during the Six Nations before picking up the injury.

Billy Vunipola shone in his absence but Back, who won the 2003 World Cup with England as a flanker, thinks the Saracens back-row may come unstuck at the highest level.

“With Billy Vunipola there are sometimes question marks over his work rate over the full 80 minutes and any lapse in concentration against the best sides in the world will be punished,” said Back, who is chairing the panel deciding on Green Flag's Forward of the Season competition, with the winner revealed at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards on 20th May at the Park Lane Hilton, London.

“Ben Morgan, when in form, definitely makes things happen and would definitely be in the World Cup squad.

“You’ve got to admire his attitude to get back to full fitness and if he was to miss out it won’t have been through lack of effort.

“England have got some very good back row options in all three positions though and those on the bench all they can do is play the best they can for their clubs to get the chance for their country and then work hard once they get there.

“The hardest job is for Stuart Lancaster, Graham Rowntree, Mike Catt and Andy Farrell to pick the right balance in the back row as finding that balance in the team is crucial.”

Despite the World Cup being a little over four months away, the make-up of England’s back row is still up in the air.

In addition to Morgan and Vunipola battling for the No.8 jersey, the likes of James Haskell, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, Tom Croft and Steffon Armitage could all be vying for a flanker berth.

And Back claims the back-row conundrum is symptomatic of the depth that head coach Stuart Lancaster has at his disposal.

“I don’t think there are many in any position that are nailed down in the England starting XV at the moment,” added Back.

“You could make an argument for Mike Brown but he’s been injured and George Ford perhaps but otherwise it’s up for grabs.

“Manu Tuilagi will be coming back and hopefully he will be an asset as well.”

Green Flag – proud partner of Aviva Premiership Rugby – has revealed the shortlist for the Green Flag Forward of the Season award. The winner will be announced on 20th May.