Planet Rugby

Strettle for England - McCall

07th January 2013 05:57

David Strettle Saracens AVP 2012

David Strettle: Impressed against Sale

Saracens boss Mark McCall believes David Strettle's man-of-the-match performance against Sale could win him an England recall.

Strettle scored his first Premiership try of the season and gave a good allround display as his side secured a deserved 32-12 victory at Vicarage Road against the tournament's bottom-placed team.

Charlie Hodgson came off the bench to score Sarries' only other try and Owen Farrell, who impressed at fly-half, kicked 22 points in the win.

McCall insists that Strettle could join Farrell in the England set-up when Stuart Lancaster announces his Six Nations squad on Wednesday.

"David Strettle was made man-of-the-match today 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's 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.

"We'd like to be scoring more tries and we've done that in certain games in Europe but we were dominant in the first half as well here and that is a good sign.

"We just couldn't go more than three phases without Sale giving a penalty away - that's not our fault - and Owen [Farrell] quite rightly kicked all the penalties to build a good lead so I am not too worried about the tries."

Meanwhile, Sale's director of rugby Steve Diamond urged his side to concentrate for an entire 80 minutes if they want to avoid relegation.

"We came down here looking for a performance and trying to stay with them for the first 60 minutes, which we managed to do," he said.

"Then we conceded a soft try, really, once Charlie Hodgson came on that opened us up and then another basic error where they chipped through and scored.

"So we're disappointed with that, but for the first 60 minutes we were still in the game - if we could've just sorted our tackle awareness out in getting away from the ball we'd have been competitive.

"We've just got to stick to what we do in the league and hopefully our endeavour will show.

"We proved last week against Worcester that we can be competitive right the way through but when you come up against a top four side like this, if you're off your metal in the last 15 minutes they'll make you pay."

Comments

TVaddict says...

@Centre12

Agreed! Though I'd be happy with quite a few people on the wings. I mean, any combination of Wade, Foden, Biggs, Varndell, Sharples, Joseph, Jess or Yarde and I'll be happy with it for the 6 nations. If Ashton or Strettle are there it'll be a bit of a joke as neither have played well for at least two years.

Posted 15:38 08th January 2013

1st58 says...

Strettle is nowhere near good enough - he's far to fragile and suspect under the high ball - plenty of better choices available.

Posted 13:04 08th January 2013

ramm83 says...

Personally - I'd like to see Biggs get his chance. He is an excellent player and much better on the back foot than Varndell. Varndell is a lazy defender (although I haven't seem him much this season) and rarely goes looking for the ball. I'd have Biggs, Brown (at FB) and Foden

Posted 12:29 08th January 2013

Centre12 says...

@tvaddict & Heart_of_oak

Agreed, if Goode is out injured then Brown at #15 against the Scots with Varndel & Wade (both form Premiership wings). I think Ashton needs to be dropped until he hits form again and I would have Foden on the Bench covering Fullback and Wing.

Posted 09:42 08th January 2013

Heart_of_oak says...

Wade Varndell and Brown looks good. No Strettle though, not even on the bench.

Posted 20:20 07th January 2013

Jediboy says...

Strettle - no chance. Just not good enough. I would much rather see Wade in there.

Posted 17:58 07th January 2013

APV1 says...

I like Biggs, Brown and Varndell, with Wade on the bench.

There's also a better baklance of the amount of hair a player carries with those three - Biggs' barnet more than makes up for Varndell's and Brown's..!

Posted 16:17 07th January 2013

kybone says...

He scores his first try over half way through the season and McCall thinks he deserves an England call. I may be wrong but i think Varndell's 10 tries in 11 games gives him the slight advantage over Strettle. Honestly, if Varndell is not in the next England squad, he never will be. By far the best winger in the Prem so far this season.

Posted 16:05 07th January 2013

tvaddict says...

He shouldn't be anywhere near the England squad.

@Centre12

A back three of Varndell, Wade and Brown would be fearsome! I'd be very happy to see that.

Posted 15:11 07th January 2013

Chinstan says...

@lawynd exactly! and that's coming from a Sarries supporter!

Posted 14:24 07th January 2013

Centre12 says...

I think its fare to say Strettle, Monye and Sharples have all had more than ample opportunity to impress on the Wing with none doing so, even Ashton our strongest winger hasn't been hitting the right form.

Im sure Dai Young would argue that Varndel and Wade deserve a shot and i'm inclined to agree with him.

Posted 13:36 07th January 2013

APV1 says...

Wade. (Foden). Strettle. Sharples. Biggs. Ashton. (Eastmond). Monye. Benjamin. May. Thompstone. JJ. Yarde. Armitage. (Brown). Jess. Varndell.

Have I missed anyone?

I'd like Biggs in the EPS this time round. And I'd have him over Strettle. Bath-bias? Me?!

Posted 11:39 07th January 2013

lawynd says...

One try against the worst team in the AP and that's enough for an England cap, McCall? Dream on.

Posted 09:04 07th January 2013

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