Six Nations snub made David Strettle decide to go

David Strettle admits his decision to refuse a place in England’s World Cup training squad might have been different had boss Stuart Lancaster included him earlier.
Strettle, who won the last of his 14 caps against Argentina in June 2013, was constantly overlooked despite being one of the Premiership’s form wingers.
His selection for Lancaster’s 50-man squad was a shock, but having agreed a move to French giants Clermont Auvergne, Strettle felt obliged to withdraw.
Speaking exclusively to The Rugby Paper, Strettle explained: “I’ve got some of my best mates playing for England and couldn’t think of anything more amazing than seeing them lift the World Cup.
“I fully supported Stuart Lancaster’s desire to look at other wingers with a World Cup coming up, but having not been in the squad for the last two years and not being involved in the Six Nations, I didn’t really believe I’d be in the World Cup training squad.
“I’d had no real communication with England in that time, but in my mind my form hadn’t changed and, without wanting to sound arrogant, I’d proved with what I did for Saracens over the last year or so that I desperately wanted to play for my country.
“Having signed for Clermont at the eleventh hour, though, I’d made a life decision and when I commit to something I give it 100 per cent.”
Explaining his thought process, Strettle, who saw his training squad place go to Bath‘s Semesa Rokoduguni, added: “Playing for your country is the greatest thing you can have, but in my mind I knew that it was the right thing to withdraw.
“I took time and if I’d been somebody like Brad Barritt, who I believe will be playing in the World Cup, I might have thought differently about Clermont following their approach and I’d have rung Stuart straight away. I wouldn’t suddenly have dropped it on him.
“Stuart said he’d have liked to have known earlier and I said I’d like to have told him sooner, but it was all decided pretty late in the day which made it difficult.
“It’s all ifs, buts and maybes, but if Stuart had phoned me before the Six Nations and picked me then, it might have been different – Clermont might never have rung.”
Strettle, who reports for pre-season training with Clermont this Wednesday, insists he had no great desire to leave Sarries.
“I’m comfortable with my decision but I loved my time at Saracens and didn’t want to leave,” Strettle explained.
“But the opportunity came along because they’d lost two wingers in Napolioni Nalaga and Zac Guildford and missed out on signing Waisake Naholo, so it’s a great chance and Nick Abendanon did well after following the same route.
“He’d been in a similar boat with England of not getting selected and my mum’s always told me not to sit in my comfort zone – if something appeals to you and you’re nervous about doing it, it means you should go for it.
“I look at my time with Saracens and the feelings are the same now as they were when I left Harlequins five years ago. If I can look back after three, four or five years at Clermont with the same great memories, it will be an amazing decision to go.”
Clermont are the nearly men of French rugby, having just lost both the Champions Cup and Top 14 finals, but Strettle said: “They’ve been through exactly what Saracens went through last year and there’s no better motivation for the following season.
“Saracens handled last year’s disappointment well so I hope to help Clermont do the same.”
Strettle believes any combination of wingers England pick are capable of doing the job come World Cup time, but he insists room must be found for gifted former Saracens colleague Alex Goode, right, with Mike Brown potentially moving to a wide position.
He explained: “If England are going to have Brad Barritt and another hard-carrying centre, you need a ball-playing full-back like Alex Goode. Browny has been phenomenal and you’ve got to pick him, but, depending on tactics, I’d find room for both.
“Browny’s shown he can play on the wing, where he’ll do a similar rock solid job to the one Mark Cueto used to do, which means you can employ Goodey at 15.
“Goodey is the most naturally talented ball player I’ve played with, which is saying something because I’ve played with Jonny Wilkinson and Charlie Hodgson, and if England want that extra spark they need to accommodate him.”
Strettle, 31, leaves London tomorrow after organising the highly successful ‘Sevens and the City’ event at Allianz Park, sponsored by the CME Group, in conjunction with former Saracens and England prop Matt Stevens.
Strettle adds: “Matt and I originally wanted to do a food and drink event, but our old chief executive Ed Griffiths suggested we combine it with sports like Sevens and netball and it’s really taken off.We’ll host it again next year and the aim is to make it one of the top summer sports events in England.
“There’s a finite number of coaching jobs around in the Premiership, so event management is possibly another way to go when I finish. In the meantime, though, I’m looking forward to my next chapter at Clermont and can’t wait to get stuck in.”
NEALE HARVEY