The Leicester second-row is the World Cup winner who missed rugby's equivalent of an open goal in the biggest game of his life when he spilled the ball virtually in the act of diving over the Australian try line in Sydney's Telstra stadium back in 2003.

He has struggled to make his mark consistently for club and country ever since, being consigned largely to the bench.

He returns to partner Danny Grewcock in the engine room of England's pack for the RBS 6 Nations opener, after a month in which he has proved he is back to his best.

And he puts his 'blip' down to unfortunate timing.

''I always said my opportunity would come again and when it did I'd have to take it,'' said Kay.

''There's been a lot of talk about my form dipping. I don't think it was a massive drop in form, it's just that when it came there was someone, Louis Deacon, who was playing really well at Leicester. He got the Player of the Season award last year.

''There are positives of playing at a club like Leicester. The negatives are that you have no right to the shirt and as soon as form dips in any way you're out of the team.

''I came back after the last Six Nations and had two bad games and didn't get another look in. It's a tough fact of life. When you're not playing particularly well, you've just got to get on with it.

''If you're prepared to take the good times, you have to take the bad times.

''It is an admirably philosophical outlook from a man whose hard work and desire has impressed England coach Andy Robinson and won him the nod over Steve Borthwick and Simon Shaw.

''The second-row was a tight call,'' said Robinson.

''But in the balance of the front five I wanted more pace around the field and some physicality with the ball in hand.

''Ben is a World Cup winner and has done great under pressure on many occasions. He has played well in the past month and earned the right to be selected.''