A faultless effort as stand-in skipper during the Six Nations merely emphasised that Corry is the man of the moment in the England set-up.

This will be his second Lions tour having travelling in 2001 as a late inclusion in the squad after Scotland's Simon Taylor was ruled out through injury, and he has happy memories from Down Under having gone from nowhere to a Test starter within a month.

He would surely have won more England caps but for the fact he was always considered to be behind Lawrence Dallaglio in the pecking order and Corry has grasped his chance with both hands since the Wasps man retired from international rugby last year.

A ferocious performer, witness his clash with Dallaglio in the Heineken Cup double-header between Wasps and Leicester late last year, Corry has developed into a top-drawer back-row.

He will relish the chance to fight - not literally Lions fans will hope - Dallaglio for a starting berth here.