Perry's Irish challenge

Perry had a successful tour of Australia with the Lions

BBC Sport Online's Ed King speaks to England international Matt Perry ahead of the Six Nations showdown againt Ireland on Saturday.

At 24, Matt Perry is already a Lions veteran and England's most capped full-back with 36 appearances.

But does he feel comfortable? Not one bit.

Only one year ago, Perry was regarded as the man likely to hold onto the England jersey for the next decade.

But he then found his run in the side cut short by his friend and Bath team-mate Iain Balshaw, whose dynamic running and blistering pace cut defences to shreds last season.

"It's just one of those things," said Perry wryly.

"When you're expected to play 12 months of the year, there will be peaks and troughs, but it's all about how mentally you cope with it."

The Bath star responded by forcing his way into the Lions Test side and playing all three matches against Australia.

Balshaw: Dip in form - and confidence

His performance, and his rival Iain Balshaw's loss of form, leaves England coach Clive Woodward with an interesting dilemma ahead of the Ireland match.

Should Woodward stick with Balshaw and his obvious pace, or go with the ever-reliable Perry?

Perry already has a slight advantage - he scored his first and second international tries against the men in green.

"I've got some good memories against the Irish, and have always enjoyed playing against them," said Perry, who is looking forward to another trip to Lansdowne Road.

"It's one of the most daunting places you can go to.

"There's a massive noise, and the fans are like a football crowd. It's not an easy place to play full-back, as it is quite open like a wind tunnel, so it just roars straight down.

"You just have to know the conditions and realise that with the swirling wind, the ball can suddenly move."

A win on Saturday would also erase painful memories of Wembley in 1999 and Murrayfield in 2000, when England were one match away from the Grand Slam, only to lose in the final game.

Perry: Fond memories against Ireland

"Those defeats were both very low moments," said Perry.

"There was so much at stake, and after all the hard work - we lost it in the fifth game. It all went down the drain in a matter of seconds."

But whether the rain pours and the wind howls, Perry believes the current England team will be more than able to cope with the pressures.

He said: "I think the team has matured for that not to happen.

"We've had the experiences of past defeats so we should know what to do. There really aren't any excuses now."

For England, and Matt Perry, the Ireland game could well be a turning point.

"If you think it will be plain sailing throughout your career then you would be wrong, you just have to believe in yourself," he added.

The question is, do England believe in themselves enough to finally clinch the Grand Slam?