One of England’s in-form backs has decided to put his new club ahead of his country

We weren't expecting this. David Strettle was in electric form for Saracens towards the end of their Aviva Championship-winning campaign, even helping set up a try in the final against Bath with a lovely piece of skill.   Strettle was then announced as Clermont's replacement for Fijian behemoth Napolioni Nalaga, while also being selected in Stuart Lancaster's World Cup training squad. However, it would appear that those two developments cannot compete with each other. Strettle has today announced that he is withdrawing from the England squad so he can enjoy a full pre-season with his new club, essentially choosing his new employers over potentially winning a World Cup on home soil. Granted, Strettle may not have ended up in the squad, but given how strong his form was towards the end of the season, it definitely wouldn't have been out of the question.