Alex Corbisiero has vowed to continue fighting for a return to international rugby after his omission from the England squad so far in 2015.
The British and Irish Lions loosehead, whose second minute try in the final Test of the 2013 tour in Australia set the Lions on their way to a first series win in 16 years, was plagued by knee and shoulder injuries in 2014.
And despite having featured in ten games for club side Northampton Saints since the turn of the year, the 26-year-old was overlooked by Stuart Lancaster in favour of Joe Marler and fellow Lion Mako Vunipola.
Corbisiero admits the situation is a testing one, but he insists it won’t stop him from carving out displays that cannot be ignored.
“It was really frustrating to not be involved in the England games,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was out of my control so I’ve just been focusing on what I’m doing at Saints. I am trying to put in performances at the weekend that warrant me putting my hand up to try and be involved in the future.
“I feel like the other boys had played well heading into the tournament and they were pretty good in the tournament.
“Those guys put their hands up and I guess the coaches didn’t see anything that warranted a change.
“They stuck with their guns and they stuck with their decisions – as a player you have to respect that.”
Be part of the biggest Tour in the world and register your interest in travelling with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand in 2017