Obviously I'm disappointed - but I'll be back

OF COURSE I am disappointed to miss out on the squad to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, but you are only ever one injury away from a recall - just ask Neil Back. There he was, in the team room yesterday at our Bagshot hotel at the start of another international week, enjoying every second.

This is the same Neil Back whose name was not included in the squads to face Italy and Scotland and how did he respond? Backy went out and showed for Leicester that he is still one of the best back- row forwards in the game and that's why he is preparing for another go at the Irish.

Backy is a model professional and has never let England down or performed badly for Leicester. Over the years he has had to deal with people telling him that he is too small for Test rugby. It wasn't something that was whispered around the game - it was right out there for everyone to talk about. However, Backy never showed his feelings and just made himself fitter and better until his skills couldn't be ignored.

What you cannot avoid is bad luck and boy has Simon Shaw had his share of that in recent seasons.

Shawsy was all set to replace Danny Grewcock after the Bath captain injured his foot, when the result of the facial X-ray came back, showing a break near the nose that is now all over his face after Sunday's Powergen Cup match with Pertemps Bees.

Shawsy has been in great form for Wasps and looked really good when he came on for England during this season's Six Nations. He would have relished the battle with the Irish, but instead, he has to watch from the sidelines and wait for the break to heal.

Because we have such a professional set-up, it's not a case of the guys coming up and talking about selection. Everyone is there to do a job and all you will get is maybe a wink off someone or a slap on the shoulder because you have to get on the with the job in hand.

I have been around rugby long enough to know you have to take the knock-backs with the same kind of common-sense attitude that you accept the pats on the back.

I got the call from head coach Clive Woodward yesterday morning telling me they were thinking of putting Matt Stevens, of Bath, on the bench and that a final decision will be made later. I got that message later in the day on my phone that they had opted for Matt. That's why the first thing I did when I saw young Matt was go straight up and wish him good luck.

Matt is just 21 years old, which reminds me of my debut for England in Argentina, and I will be doing whatever I can to make sure he feels comfortable going into the match. If he gets the chance to come on for that first cap against the Irish then I am sure he will take it with both hands. I will be helping our front row prepare to take on their unit later in the week.

This is going to be a very tough Six Nations match against an Irish side that took Wales apart and will fancy their chances - even at Fortress Twickenham. It's going to be a great occasion as this will be England's first competitive home game since the World Cup win. That should ensure a fantastic atmosphere which will help the lads.

It will take a very good side to beat England at Twickenham where we have won 22 successive Tests but the Irish are ferocious competitors and seem to relish the chance to get stuck into us.

They beat us in 2001 when we were going for the Grand Slam and, no doubt, they are still smarting over the Slam victory we achieved in Dublin last season.

People ask me if Ireland will miss Keith Wood. Well, he was injured for last year's Six Nations and they were still one win away from a Grand Slam.

Ireland look just as dangerous this time but you can't underestimate the Twickenham factor and I'm sure our fans will make it a special "welcome home" after the World Cup triumph.

I will be there adding my vocal support for Backy, Matt and the rest of the lads from the stands.

(c)2004. Associated Newspapers Ltd.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.