Horgan centred on happy ending

With their captain sidelined through injury, Ireland have called on Shane Horgan to fill the sizeable void left at centre for their clash with England.

With captain Brian O'Driscoll sidelined through injury, Ireland have called on versatile back Shane Horgan to fill the sizeable void left at centre for their clash with England on Saturday.

The Leinster finisher returned to Irish colours against Wales at the weekend, playing his first full game since a long-standing rib problem kept him out of the reckoning.

Horgan was understandably pleased to get back on the international scene at Croke Park, and came within inches of claiming a try against the Grand Slam contenders.

Yet with O'Driscoll ruled out for three to four weeks, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has named Horgan alongside in-form Andrew Trimble, who moves out to the number thirteen jersey for the England clash.

However, despite the Welsh loss, Horgan has been swift to dismiss the suggestion that the pressure is now off Ireland for the English encounter, with Triple Crown and Six Nations crowns out of sight.

“I don't think the pressure is off against England at all,” he said, speaking to Irish Rugby's official website.

“There's a lot of pressure on and I don't think as a rugby player you switch off because you're out of contention for the championship.

“I don't believe that is the case at all. There's a huge amount of pressure on to perform and to beat England – you don't go over there and say the pressure's off and throw the ball around.”

Ireland and England will at best finish the Six Nations in second position, that's only if Wales amass a barrage of points past France at the Millennium Stadium.

But Horgan is keen not to ponder on a disappointing campaign as the Irish look to sift through the tournament wreckage.

“I don't think you can wash it off after a game or two, but you do have to try to work your way through it,” he said.

“Of course there will be a mark there and when you think back after the Six Nations you will be very disappointed with it.

“But you have to try to get a peak against England and so put it to the back of your mind, maybe not indulge those thoughts that you would have about the game and errors that personally I or the team have made.

“The focus is on what we can do against England, but I think the result and performance probably go hand in hand, don't they?

“When we perform to our best we generally win, and when we don't, we don't. That goes for the individual and the team.”