By Jim Stokes

Munster prop Marcus Horan is knocking so hard on the international door that he is nearly breaking it down.

But the 27-year-old Munsterman has learned to be patient. He has had to be since the number one jersey is proving a nice fit for veteran Reggie Corrigan.

But the 34-year-old Corrigan knows all too well that Horan is putting on the pressure to be a permanent fixture.

"I'm aware that I'm getting older, and that it's only a matter of time before Marcus steps up," said Corrigan.

MARCUS HORAN Born: 7 September 1977 Limerick, Ireland Position: Prop Caps: 23 Points: 10 (two tries) Six Nations appearances: 8 Scored his first Munster try for two seasons on New Year's Day

''Marcus and I get on very well and have great respect for each other. There's never been any niggle in training or anything like that.''

That will hardly appease Horan, who won his international spurs as a replacement against the US Eagles in 2000 and the last of his 20 caps against the same opposition in November in a facile victory.

Horan first sprung to notice when he replaced Peter Clohessy in the Munster team back in 1998, and he has never looked back.

The Limerick player is not like your normal loose-head where body dimensions are akin to a grizzly bear before hibernation.

But what Horan lacks in physicality he makes up with technique and a superb footballing brain.

Marcus is getting better and improving all the time Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan

He has the soft hands of a fly-half, the acceleration of a centre, the height and build of a back-row.

However, he has the attitude and aptitude of those involved in trench warfare.

He has scored some memorable tries for Munster with his pace, but more importantly for Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan, can more than hold his own in the tight.

That was never more emphasised than when Ireland were holding on to a 17-13 lead in the dying moments of the game against South Africa in November.

Ireland Team Guide

O'Sullivan sent on Horan for Corrigan when they had to defend a scrum on their own line, and the Shannon club player did his stuff against a side baying for blood.

''I had no problems with that at all,'' O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. ''If something happened to players in the front row I would not be losing any sleep whatsoever.

''Any time that Marcus has been asked to do a job he has done it well. He's getting better and improving all the time.''