Andy Farrell says England have a "feast" of players to choose from as they rebuild after the World Cup.
But Farrell, a member of Stuart Lancaster's new-look coaching team, is warning players that they will have to work hard to win selection.
"Nobody gets a cap if they aren't ready. We've got to make sure the balance of the team is right," he said.
"It's a fresh start for everyone with some exciting players to choose from. It's a feast for us at the minute."
Farrell, who will take time out from his job as first-team coach of Saracens to help guide England during the Six Nations, says there are a number of big games coming up in the Premiership and Heineken Cup in which players can stake a claim for the national side.
But the former dual code international said one of the main considerations will be picking players who can gel as a unit.
"We've just got to get it right," he said. "You can't have 15 individuals out there on the field."
Farrell joins scrum coach Graham Rowntree in Lancaster's coaching set-up.
They have been given temporary responsibility for the England team while the Rugby Football Union looks for a long-term successor to Martin Johnson, who stepped down after a disappointing World Cup.
England were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals and suffered from a number of off-the-field problems in New Zealand.
Since the end of the World Cup Jonny Wilkinson, Lewis Moody and Steve Thompson have all retired from international rugby.
The Six Nations gets under way in February. England, who won the 2011 tournament, start against Scotland at Murrayfield on 4 February.
ENGLAND'S 2012 SIX NATIONS FIXTURES
Sat 4 February v Scotland (a)
Sat 11 February v Italy (a)
Sat 25 February v Wales (h)
Sun 11 March v France (a)
Sat 17 March v Ireland (h)
