By Ed King BBC Sport Online

Class is permanent, form is temporary.

At least that is what Iain Balshaw was repeating to himself over the past year as his game - and body - disintegrated.

The Bath, England and Lions fullback endured one of the most high-profile dips in form the sport of rugby union has seen.

One minute he was scoring for fun, ghosting through Six Nations defences with ease.

I'd like to think I've come away from this experience a stronger person Iain Balshaw

Then came the 2001 Lions tour to Australia, where Balshaw's confidence evaporated and his game fell apart.

A torrid season at club level did not help either, although his 2001/02 campaign was cut short by shoulder and ankle problems.

Balshaw finally returned to action for Bath in the recent Parker Pen Cup clashes with Bridgend, scoring three tries in two games.

But he still does not know where it all went wrong.

"I've got no idea," said Balshaw. "It's just one of those things, isn't it?"

"As a team we underachieved, we were probably trying too hard and I was concentrating on other people's jobs rather than my own."

It's just about working on my own game, not worrying about anyone else Iain Balshaw

But now he is back on song and taking everything in his stride.

"I'm very relaxed, not getting too engrossed in my rugby and being too rugby orientated," he said.

"I'd like to think I've come away from this experience a stronger person.

"Playing poorly for England in Ireland and then not getting selected was very frustrating.

"I got very down about it, but the senior players here were telling me that it happens to everyone, it's just one of those things."

Based on his performances against Bridgend, few would argue that Balshaw looks like the player who convinced Clive Woodward to hand him his England debut in 2000.

The Lions tour was an unhappy experience for Balshaw

And the Bath star is keen to win over the England coach again.

"The main thing now is to play well for Bath and hopefully get selected for the England squad," said Balshaw.

"I know if I play well and start doing the things I used to do then I will have a chance of getting back into the England team.

"It's just about working on my own game, not worrying about anyone else and hopefully not picking up any more injuries."

As for the future, Balshaw says his New Year's resolution is simply to make it unscathed to 1 January, 2003.

"I'm not thinking that far ahead - there's still two weeks to go."