Monday 20 October 2014 06:36, UK
Saracens star David Strettle has accused England of a lack of patience when it comes to developing young wingers.
Strettle scored two tries in Saracens’ 30-23 Champions Cup victory over Clermont Auvergne on Saturday but is unlikely to be included in Stuart Lancaster’s squad for the autumn's QBE Series against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia next month.
The 31-year-old has been a prolific performer for Saracens in recent seasons but has not figured for England since June 2013.
Marland Yarde and Anthony Watson are favourites to start against the All Blacks at Twickenham on November 8 with Semesa Rokoduguni also a contender.
The sad thing is you get young lads who come in and score tries for their clubs, get put in at the highest level and get exposed, and then people just get rid of them.
Strettle believes young English wingers are not given the necessary time to adapt to the demands in international rugby and are too easily cast aside if they fail to quickly do so.
"So many wings come and go with England because Test rugby is such a bigger game that you have to have more of an all-round game," Strettle said.
"The sad thing is you get young lads who come in and score tries for their clubs, get put in at the highest level and get exposed, and then people just get rid of them.
"They've shown some natural talent in being a good finisher, so teach them the game and stick with them. That doesn't seem to happen on the wing.
"If they're scoring tries in the Premiership and not scoring for England, but they go back to the Premiership and keep scoring tries, maybe it's because they're not getting the same ball to them.
"Lads are usually blooded a lot younger on the wing and there needs to be more onus on sticking with them and teaching them a bigger skill base.”
Strettle is hopeful he can force his way into Lancaster’s World Cup plans if he can maintain his good form and he believes his experience would be a big asset to England.
"I feel I'm one of the best wings in England and have been playing consistently at this level for a number of seasons.
"Stuart's done the right thing, he's had a look at the wings that are out there and I hope that leading up to the World Cup he'll pick the best ones.
"Experience means that sometimes you might not score the wonder try because you don't back yourself, but more often than not you've made the right decision.
"Sometimes as wingers you're expected to score wonder tries and if you're not doing that, you're doing something wrong.
"Wing play is all about reaction, you react to what happens around you because there are so many scenarios that can happen in the blink of an eye.
"The more you play the game, the more you recognise what's happening that split second earlier.
"And those older players are the best players. They might have lost a yard or two - like Brian O'Driscoll did - but they know what's happening that split second earlier and they react to it."
