"I thought my stats spoke for themselves last year. Once I got into the England camp all the feedback I was getting was that I was training well and doing everything right.
"The frustration was not even making the warm-up games. I thought that would be a chance to show what I could do. If I didn't it would have been on my own shoulders. But to not even get a chance in those games . . . I think I definitely warranted that chance. It is frustrating because you would like to think a major part of selection is done on what you do on the pitch in the Premiership but I just don't think that's the case sometimes - it does feel like sometimes it's done on reputation."
Strettle's first-half try, which saw him cut a superb diagonal line behind fly-half Charlie Hodgson to rip open the Sale defence, lit up a drab afternoon.
Owen Farrell took over from Hodgson as first-choice goal kicker and proceeded to land five from five attempts, while second-half replacement Matt Stevens also crossed before Sale scored two late consolation tries. The victory enabled Sarries to maintain the heat on Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins, and the temperature will be raised on their own players and coaches tomorrow when they walk across red-hot coals to raise money for the Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted.
Meanwhile, Saracens today announced an historic partnership with rugby league giants Wigan Warriors which will see Joel Tomkins join the Premiership champions with immediate effect.
The deal will see the two clubs co-operate between the coaching teams, academies, player loans and a cross-code match.
Saracens chairman Nigel Wray said: "We are really excited by the potential of this partnership."
