Ireland's Shane Horgan has revealed he is a 'natural centre' but is happy to be on the wing for this weekend's Six Nations clash with England.

Speaking to the Irish Times the Leinster and Lansdowne player spoke of how he responded to the crushing defeat at Murrayfield to play a crucial part in the rout of Wales and of his match up against England's Jason Robinson in Dublin on Saturday.

"Things just didn't go right for me in Scotland," he told the newspaper. "Afterwards I really tried not to expose myself to a lot of the criticism because you know yourself when you've had a bad game.

"After the match I knew how bad things were and I didn't read the papers on Sunday or Monday or Tuesday. I went to coaches and exposed myself to their criticism, asked them things, watched the video and saw what I did wrong and what I did right.

"I'm happier in the centre but I don't suppose you would have guessed it against Scotland. I'm definitely a centre and I've played all my rugby with Leinster and Lansdowne in the centre. But it was extra disappointing because I had my chance and I wanted to do well in my natural position."

"We let ourselves down against Scotland but against Wales our pack was amazing. They completely turned it around, our runners worked very well and there was good linking play."

Of this weekend's challenge and the prospect of facing England's Bill-Whizz Jason Robinson he said, "A new guy to union? Well he hasn't done so badly so far has he?" says Horgan. "He's a world-class performer and proved with the Lions what he can do it at any level. Obviously England has a whole team of players who are dangerous and it is foolish to focus in on just one.

"He is not a threat if he does not have his hands on the ball and that is where the whole team has a job to do," he says.

"Sure if they get the ball wide they will be threatening. You don't want him running at you. You want to close down his space and try to limit his undoubted potential and ability. But you don't want to get bogged down or try to over-analyse a guy with that much talent. We know what he's capable of doing."