Corry: I want a front row seat to watch back row star; MARTIN TIPS TOM TO SHINE EDINBURGH v LEICESTER, HEINEKEN CUP POOL 6, TODAY.

Byline: Alex SPINK Rugby Correspondent

MARTIN CORRY has told of his 'huge excitement' at the prospect of young Leicester team-mate Tom Croft filling his place in the England back row.

Corry retired from international rugby this week after 64 caps and a decade spent working his way into the heart of every English fan with his full-blooded commitment and selfless attitude.

Identifying the right time to end a career on the world stage is incredibly hard, as both Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson proved. Both came back for more after calling it a day.

But Leicester skipper Corry knew he had got it right when he lined up alongside Croft at Harlequins last Sunday on the eve of his announcement. The 22-year-old scored two tries and had such a barnstorming game that afterwards Quins coach and England back row great Dean Richards praised him as an "outstanding talent who has everything".

Richards added: "He is one of these guys who could been thrown into the England team and it would not hurt the team too much at all." The following day Corry called time on his international career and 24 hours later England head coach Brian Ashton named Croft in his Six Nations squad.

"I'm hugely excited about where Tom's career could take him," Corry said ahead of Leicester's must-win Heineken Cup clash today against Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

"There's a lot of good young back row players around of which Tom is undoubtedly one. He's got something which is unique."

That something is scorching pace. He has made only 15 starts for his club but already he may well be the quickest forward in the world.

Only wing Tom Varndell is faster at Tigers - and he is the most fleet-footed player in the English game.

Last summer Croft showed off his speed when outsprinting the NZ Maori cover to win the Churchill Cup for England with a spectacular late try.

To prove that was no fluke, six days ago at Quins he appeared from nowhere between two defenders to steal a cross-kick and score.

Meanwhile, fired-up Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford has told English superstars Leicester: "We're as good as you now."

The World Cup ace said: "There is a mounting confidence in our squad after our recent run of wins against Leinster, Glasgow and Cardiff and we KNOW we are as good as the Tigers on a man-by-man basis.

"We have always had quality players, but the big difference now is that we are finding the belief and attitude. Down at their place, we made the mistake of worrying about what they might do. This weekend, we will be focussing on what we will do.

"Andy Robinson has introduced a mental hard edge to our play."

CAPTION(S):

CROFT has been named in the Six Nations squad