BACK-ROWER Marco Mama reckons Scotland would be “silly” not to recall “confrontational” number eight Cornell du Preez for the upcoming Six Nations.

Du Preez’s superb form has earned him a new two-year contract at Warriors and Mama believes it should also put him back into the international frame.

The powerful forward has not played for Scotland since winning his sixth cap against Wales in February 2018.

But having overcome a serious throat injury which ruled him out for much of last season to star in the Gallagher Premiership Mama is convinced du Preez is ready to return to the big stage.

“Cornell has been awesome,” Mama said.

“It is great to see him show his worth after his (throat) injury.

“He is a great front-foot ball-carrier and a confrontational back-rower.

“I think Scotland would be silly to look past him. They have got to consider somebody like that as he has got the experience.

“As a rugby player you go through times when you are constantly getting niggles.

“He had quite a bad break to his ankle (in 2014) which I know was niggling him a lot. He had a jab in the off-season and his ankle seems to be really settled.

“He has got on top of things with his injuries and it has obviously really helped his form at the moment.”

Du Preez was in hospital for six weeks undergoing operations to repair his voice box which he damaged in his Warriors debut against Wasps in September 2018.

The 28-year-old came back in March and has played 11 matches this term, seven of those in the Premiership.

“He epitomises the physical number eight and is a great asset,” Mama said.

“You can see the value of having big, ball-carrying number eights across the league.

“You can see how effective someone like Billy (Vunipola) can be for Saracens and how effective Nathan Hughes can be for Bristol.

“Cornell is definitely someone who has been very effective for us this season, both in attack and defence which has been particularly strong this year.

“Some of the hits he puts in defensively have been fantastic.”

With the Six Nations starting in February, director of rugby Alan Solomons has also backed du Preez to return to the Scotland set-up.

“It depends whether Gregor (Townsend, head coach) is going to play people from outside Scotland and there are a lot of young guys like Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson," Solomons said.

“But Cornell has shown that he is well capable of playing international rugby and has played really this year for us.

“He is certainly playing well enough (to play for Scotland) but it is up to Gregor.”

Solomons admitted it was a straight-forward decision for du Preez to commit his future to Warriors.

“He likes the club and the players,” Solomons added.

“There is a good atmosphere at the club and with the new owners coming in there is stability “He is a very happy here and that’s an important factor.

“He is a fantastic footballer with incredible skills but is as tough as nails.

“Lesser men would not be playing the game after those injuries to his ankle and throat.

“It is wonderful that he has decided to stay on with us.”