Quins winger David Strettle admits he is bemused why clubmate Chris Robshaw was not picked in Martin Johnson’s original 32-man squad for this year’s Six Nations.

The 23-year-old, the Guinness Premiership play of the year last season, was called in from the Saxons last week as injury cover for Leicester’s Tom Croft.

Robshaw made his Test debut against Argentina in the summer and has continued the form that got him there in 19 appearances for the club this season.

And Strettle, himself currently in the Saxons squad, believes Johnson shouldn’t stop in making the all-action youngster part of his first choice set-up - he has recommended he take a look at the rest of the Quins back row.

“A number six should first and foremost be about work ethic and Chris has bags of that. He is the heartbeat of our engine room,” he said.

“Ask anyone at Quins and he’d be the first name on the team sheet.

“Chris, Nick Easter and Will Skinner is - in my eyes - a world class back row. Dean Richards knew a thing or two about playing there for England and deliberately put them together.”