BATH three-quarter Iain Balshaw cannot wait to take his chance as he is selected to start at full-back to face Italy in Rome in Sunday.

The Blackburn-born player was employed mainly as a replacement during England's victorious World Cup campaign but the 24-year-old is now looking forward to playing a bigger role.

While he was on the field when the whistle blew in Sydney as England claimed the World Cup, Balshaw couldn't hide his hunger to win a regular starting place over the Six Nations series.

"The World Cup was a bit frustrating for me because I felt fantastic and though I was in the squad for the semi-final and the final I didn't play much rugby," admitted Balshaw.

"But now this is another chance for me and one I want to take."

His chance of playing in the Six Nations championships had looked in doubt earlier in the month as injury kept him out of Bath's Zurich Premiership table-topping side.

But he is fit and ready and takes over the full-back role from Josh Lewsey as the Wasps player is moved to the wing.

And he felt that everyone involved in Rome would be hungry for action.

"We have had such a long break since the World Cup that everybody is chomping at the bit to start the Six Nations," said Balshaw.

"Italy are probably one of the most physical teams in world rugby at the moment and we have got to go into this game 100 per cent."