South Africa-born Strauss becomes eligible for Ireland in November and Kidney is keen to blood him on the international stage, leaving 26-year-old Cronin, who has 21 caps but only six starts for Ireland, out in the cold.
But Feek, who will continue to lend his expertise to Ireland in their matches with the Springboks, Fiji and Argentina, believes Cronin will bounce back.
"It's a shame for Sean Cronin," former New Zealand international Feek told the Irish Independent. "He offers a lot in terms of ball-carrying, but Straussy, Declan liked something in him.
"He does well in the set-piece, his ball-carrying is dynamic and he is good around the rucks.
"I think it's his chance and, hopefully, he makes the most of it, because when he gets back into the Leinster set-up Sean Cronin will be breathing down his neck and hoping to get his place back.
"I think it's good for Irish rugby, good for Leinster rugby as well, that there is that competition and some depth."
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