Speedster Strettle braced for ‘baptism of fire’

DAVID STRETTLE is braced for “a baptism of fire” at Croke Park today after being handed one of the toughest jobs in European rugby – replacing Jason Robinson.

England boss Brian Ashton has again underlined his fearless selection streak by throwing 23-year-old Harlequins wing Strettle in at the deep end as the world champions put their unbeaten RBS 6 Nations record on the line.

Ashton could have promoted substitute back Mathew Tait, or looked at experienced pair Mark Cueto and Ben Cohen as options.

But Strettle has won the head coach’s vote just six months into his first season of Guinness Premiership rugby.

Robinson has not recovered from a neck injury sustained in training at Bath University on Wednesday, while England are still fretting over the fitness of fly-half superstar Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson missed training on Thursday because of a tight right hamstring, which proved sufficiently troublesome for England to summon 35-year-old Mike Catt as cover.

However, England were able to deliver a reasonably positive fitness update on Wilkinson following yesterday’s Croke Park run-out.

Wilkinson emerged from the session having shown no reaction to his hamstring problem.

He will be assessed again this morning before a final decision is made.

Ashton has confirmed his 21-year-old Newcastle colleague Toby Flood will start should England be forced into making another change.

Between them, Wilkinson and Robinson have scored 57 of England’s 62 points during this season’s Six Nations, which illustrates their importance to a team that has not won away since February last year.

And if Flood is called up, then it would mean England facing their toughest test of the tournament with four backs – Flood, Strettle, centre Andy Farrell and full-back Olly Morgan – who have just seven caps between them.

Ashton added:

“David Strettle is a lad on form, who is scoring tries. He has got pace, good feet and is a tremendous finisher.”

Strettle said: “It will be a baptism of fire, but it is going to be superb.

“Obviously, I will be nervous – I don’t know many players who don’t get nervous before games – but it is a case of trying to keep those nerves under control.

“It is fantastic to get your first cap, and the fact it will be at Croke Park makes it a bit special.

England will need a considerable improvement from their display against Italy two weeks ago to even threaten an Irish side seeking a fourth successive victory against the world champions.

It is a fact acknowledged by Ashton, who added: “We got caught in a one-dimensional game against Italy, which was not our intention, but that is the way it went.

“We need more dynamism and movement, putting together a game that is going to challenge the Irish defence and putting a defence together that is going to challenge the Irish attack.

“But I am confident this will be a much-enhanced England performance.”