Wounded wings are a worry but David Strettle is eager to step in

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17 December 2013

David Strettle is determined to prove that despite losing Marland Yarde, Christian Wade and Ugo Monye to injury, -England still have plenty of wing options for the Six Nations.

With Saracens leading the Premiership and joint top of Heineken Cup Pool Three with Toulouse, Strettle could not wish for a better platform to remind England of his predatory skills on the left wing. The 30-year-old is operating at club level with fellow Test wing Chris Ashton and the challenge for both is to prove to Stuart Lancaster they are part of England’s future.

Strettle will line up against Leicester at Allianz Park on Saturday then has Premiership games at Worcester, and Gloucester followed by the titanic Heineken Cup clash in France against Toulouse and the home game with Connacht in the same competition. The last of those matches is on January 18, two weeks before England kick off their Six Nations campaign against France.

The disappointment in Lancaster’s voice when he talks about the loss of both London Irish flyer Yarde (hip) and Wasps’ Wade (ankle) for the entire Championship is palpable and while Monye, of Harlequins, is expected back shortly from an adductor injury, the talk is about Gloucester’s 23-year-old Jonny May rising up the rankings.

Strettle has won 15 caps since in six years but England head coach Lancaster has repeatedly opted for younger players when putting together a squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

How does Strettle change Lancaster’s mind?” Obviously, you are hoping the England coaches are watching every match. Players understand the game and know who is playing well even if the media aren’t talking them up. I played at Harlequins with Chris Robshaw for four years and no one gave him the time of day but we knew how good he was and look at him now.

“Stuart is looking towards the World Cup and all you can do is play well for your club because it puts you in the shop window for England. Everyone wants to play for their country. You have to go out and be the best player you can be. Wingers make the ¬headlines and there are a lot of good ones in the Premiership.”

In October 2008, Strettle broke the same metatarsal bone in his left foot for the third time in 14 months and that period out of the game included the 2007 World Cup. Having fought his way back into Test contention after that worrying period, Strettle is determined to keep his name in the selection mix.

Strettle and Ashton scored tries in Sarries nine-try 64-7 romp over Zebre in the Heineken Cup while Leicester claimed a last-gasp 15-14 win in Montpellier at the weekend.

“Every game in the Premiership is big and you can slip up against anyone,” said Strettle. “You have to earn every win and while we have had some great results in recent weeks, it counts for nothing if you don’t keep back it up.”