By Phil Harlow

My emphasis has to be on getting the scrum and the line-out right England's Martin Corry

Former England captain Martin Corry says he is unconcerned about starting at lock for only the second time in his international career on Sunday.

Corry, whose previous Test start at lock came against Uruguay in 2003, has been switched from number eight to the second row to face France.

But the 32-year-old said he was confident he could adapt.

"It's a different challenge but one I'm looking forward to - I'm more than happy to do it," he said.

"It's something that's always been there - people have talked about me as a potential England second row."

Corry has occasionally played at lock for Leicester and has won a handful of his 52 caps as a replacement in the second row, but the vast majority of his years in the sport have been spent at either number eight or blind-side flanker.

The Leicester captain said he would not try to change his style during open play, but admitted he would be paying particular attention to his responsibilities in the set-pieces.

606: DEBATE How do you think Corry will get on as a lock against France?

"If I'm honest, getting my hands on the ball in open play is secondary," he added.

"My emphasis has to be on getting the scrum and the line-out right.

"But I'll still play the same way as I do in the back row."

Corry said England had to face up the fact that their pack was taken apart by Ireland in their 43-13 thrashing two weeks ago.

Corry has been a valuable source of line-out ball for England

"It really pains me to say that England's pack came off second best to Ireland," he said.

"You can look for fine points, for excuses, but at the end of the day it's the bigger picture, that as a unit we were outplayed in the contact area, in the scrums.

"People in this team care - we are desperate to play for England and put this right."

Corry was overlooked for the captaincy against France, with the veteran Mike Catt brought into the team as skipper.

But Corry said he was not concerned in the slightest.

"I had not thought about it," he said.

"(Head coach) Brian Ashton indicated what the side would be and gave me a call which was very good of him - he did not have to do that.