EXCLUSIVE: Strettle keen to make up for lost time and prove he's England's best

The Harlequins wing has been told he will start the RBS Six Nations campaign as one of Brian Ashton's trusted backs and he will be expected to provide the turbo-charged power down the flanks necessary to provide England with the most positive of starts to their post-World Cup era.

Strettle will also be making up for lost time as he was forced to sit at home with a foot in plaster after breaking a bone and missing out on the chance to battle for the William Webb Ellis Trophy.

He has already turned in a series of first-rate performances for Quins in the Guinness Premiership and is out to make the most of his reward now he has another chance to shine for his country.

'Any time you get the chance to represent England at any level it is a special feeling and I am very proud to be named in the starting XV to face Wales,' said the 6ft, 24-year-old Yokshireman.

'Playing any one of the home nations is a marvellous moment but to also be running out at Twickenham is going to be a brilliant.

'I am in possession of the England shirt now and hopefully I can turn in the performance which will enable me to set off on a decent run in the side.

'I am going to go out and play the way I always do when I pull on any rugby shirt by giving it my best shot. If I do that then hopefully I will still be in possession for the next international and then I can concentrate on still being in the side for the one after that.'

Strettle admits he suffered heartache when he realised his injury in training was going to force him to miss the World Cup and revealed how he needed to be mentally strong to watch his team-mates surge to the final.

'I had to think of myself as no longer being a rugby player and had to step back and look at England's games as a spectator,' the former Rotherham flyer admitted.

'It was difficult and I did feel that I missing out on a lot of fun as the boys were doing so well. I had trained week in, week out with them during the summer and had made some really good mates.

'But when you see them going on to do something special you can only feel proud. And it was great to see my Harlequins team-mates in the squad come back with World Cup final medals after playing so well in the tournament.'

David Strettle was speaking to us on behalf of 02 - proud sponsor of the England rugby team. 02 customers can text SIXNATIONS to 2020 to access exclusive content and free RBS 6 Nations highlights.