Strettle tipped for Six Nations England recall
SARACENS director of rugby Mark McCall believes Stuart Lancaster should be looking at David Strettle for his England Six Nations squad after the wing’s star turn against Sale Sharks yesterday.
Strettle scored a second-half try and set up another for Charlie Hodgson against his former club as Saracens eased to a 32-12 victory over the Aviva Premiership’s bottom club at Vicarage Road.
Owen Farrell is almost certain to be named in Lancaster’s elite squad on Wednesday after the fly-half impressed with 22 points, but McCall would not be surprised if Strettle joins him.
“David Strettle was made man-of-the-match and he was magnificent,” he said. “He’s really relished this opportunity to play on the left wing and England don’t have that many natural left wingers.
“No one has been putting their hands up as an out-an-out starter and the last five weeks has seen some of the best rugby I’ve seen from him.”
Elsewhere, champions Harlequins returned to the top with a 31-26 win at London Welsh, but the Exiles boss Lyn Jones was pleased to collect a losing bonus point given their 40-3 hammering by Quins in round two.
“We’re showing we’ve got determination, we’re showing we’ve got spirit but the biggest thing we’re showing is that we’re good enough to stay in this league,” said Jones.
“We’ve settled as a team since that cold wet night at the Stoop – we’ve built, and I think we deserved the bonus point. They’re a very ambitious side and it’s a shame more teams in England don’t play like them.”
London Wasps climbed into the top four with a 29-15 victory over Bath Rugby at Adams Park, while on Saturday, George Skivington inspired London Irish to their first triumph in seven Aviva Premiership games with an 18-12 victory over Gloucester.
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