Martin Corry won't forget the summer of 2001. Ensconced with a young England squad on a tour to the US and Canada, the Leicester Tigers number eight was a senior figure in a party shorn of many established internationals.

The Lions tour to Australia had allowed Clive Woodward to take the next generation of wannabe England internationals for a test run in North America.

Any disappointment at missing out on a Lions selection was ruthlessly subjugated as Corry focused on the task in hand. Suddenly a call came from down under. Scotland's Simon Taylor saw his tour end in his opening match after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage. Corry was summoned by coach Graham Henry, a prophetic decision as the Leicester player was to enjoy an outstanding time in Australia.

While losing the Test series 2-1 was barely palatable, Corry had an ideal pick-me-up in the form of marriage. "It was a huge disappointment but fortunately for me as soon as I got back I got married. That was something to take my mind off it pretty quickly.

"The good thing about rugby is that whether you are successful or whether you fail, as soon as the next season starts it is forgotten about and you have to start all over again."

It is against that backdrop that Corry articulates his thoughts on tomorrow's Six Nations Championship game against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

Last weekend it appeared that injury might pickpocket the opportunity to don the England jersey. A hamstring problem forced him to sit out Leicester's victory over Northampton but his chagrin at missing that match was displaced by a desperate desire to make the Irish game.

"I did have a slightly tight hamstring last week and that kept me out of the Northampton game. The great thing with hamstrings is that they're sore one minute but with a load of physio and rehab they're great the next. It was a little bit sore and did cause concern at the time but that's in the past. I feel fine now.

"The medical teams that I have dealt with both at Leicester and with England have been superb. It has taken a lot of work but that isn't a problem when you're doing something you love:

"I just want to get back on the field, especially with a game like Saturday's coming up. It was a huge incentive to get myself fit."

Corry, 28 years old and with 22 caps (two tries) to his name, graduated through the ranks and first represented England at Schools international level in 1992.

While at Northumbria University and Newcastle, he was included in the England Students side in 1995, and later that same year made the England A team touring Australia and Fiji.

He made his England international debut in 1997 on the tour of Argentina as a Bristol player, and has since represented his country in each of the Five/Six Nations tournaments since the 1999 World Cup.

Corry joined Leicester in August 1997 playing a major part in their hat-trick of Premiership titles since 1999 and was a central figure in the European Cup win this year.

The presence of Lawrence Dallaglio in the England back row has greatly curtailed the number of caps that he might have won but with the former England captain absent through injury, Corry is afforded the chance to make himself indispensable in the eyes of coach Woodward.

But what of tomorrow's game? "Ireland have now hit top form. In their first game against Scotland, they realised that it can take a while to warm up and get into the flow of internationals, the faster pace at which they're played. Their defeat was a lesson for us.

" We don't have the luxury of a warm-up and so we have had to put in all our hard work on the training field. We hope that pays off and that we can start the game in flying form.

"It's a massive game and we would be foolish not to take it seriously. The players, coaches and management are aware of the importance, it's a big game for us as it is for Ireland. The hardest thing in the week leading up to the match is the waiting. You just want to get out there and play the game.

"That's why players play the sport, for occasions like Saturday. It's about the big games, the big crowds, the big occasions. It's just a complete privilege to be a part of it."

Ireland supporters would rather that it was a case of bit part, rather than centre stage as far as Corry is concerned at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.