 |  Fatigue has never been a factor for me |
Josh Lewsey insists he will bounce back from the disappointment of being axed from England's side to face Ireland. "It has not affected my resolve or dented my confidence as a player at all," he told BBC Sport. "In many ways it has strengthened it.
"To be left out of the squad entirely was very disappointing but you have just got to take it on the chin.
"I am not down about it. I have had harder things in my life and I will bounce back in the only way I know."
Lewsey was the biggest casualty as England coach Andy Robinson reacted to last Sunday's record-equalling defeat to France by dropping six players from his starting line-up.
The versatile Wasps back had started 22 of England's 23 Tests since their World Cup victory, only missing the recent win in Italy because of a shoulder injury.
"I have had a very good run and been very lucky," Lewsey said. "I am not the first player to be dropped by England and I won't be the last.
"There were bound to be repercussions after a game like that and I was one of them. "I have spoken to Andy and realise some of the reasons why I've been left out, so I take a bit of comfort from that.
"Obviously being dropped is not a positive thing but I am very positive and am looking at it in that way.
"I have got the weekend off and I am looking forward to spending some time away from rugby, then getting back to my club and playing some enjoyable rugby again in a team with smiles on our faces."
England assistant coach Joe Lydon said he was working with "a tired group of players" in the wake of the Paris rout. But Lewsey dismissed any notion that fatigue had played a part in England's dismal display.
Asked whether tiredness was a factor, he replied: "Not at all. We do play a lot of games in comparison with some of the other countries but we are all reasonably well rested.
"Come the end of the season when you go away on tour, that is when people are tired.
"But I personally never felt tired, especially when you are playing France in Paris - it is a hell of an occasion.
"Fatigue has never been a factor for me and the people I speak to never mention it." Many of you e-mailed Lewsey - who as a BBC Sport columnist has been answering your e-mails regularly during the Six Nations - to express your own disappointment at his omission from the 22 to face Ireland.
"One of the most comforting things is the amount of people who have been in touch and said nice things to me," he said.
"It is really quite touching, but I am big enough and ugly enough to take something like this. I will take it on the chin and move on."
Lewsey says he "probably won't" go to Twickenham on Saturday, preferring to recharge his batteries elsewhere.
"I get very frustrated when I am watching any game, let alone one I was hoping to play in," he added. "But I wish the players all the best anyway."
MMIX
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