EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Former England star Martin Corry
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 18 March 2011 - 17:17
Author: Samuel Rider
At the Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Martin Corry played 45 minutes of England’s 111-13 Rugby World Cup group victory over Uruguay in the nation’s triumphant campaign of 2003. Four years later he lined up against South Africa in the final of the 2007 World Cup at the Stade de France, going down valiantly 15-6.
Sandwiched between the two Corry captained the Red Rose under Andy Robinson and in the prestigious Six Nations was part of winning England sides in 2000, 2001 and 2003 while earning 64 caps over 10 years at No8, flanker or lock.
He ran out seven times for the British and Irish Lions between 2001 and 2005 and with his club Leicester Tigers won six English Premierships and two Heineken Cups in 2001 and 02.
Whether with club, country or club house bar Corry, somewhat of an unsung hero, has almost always had the indomitable Martin Johnson by his side.
So Sport.co.uk feel it is safe to say Corry knows a thing or two about Martin Johnson and Leicester Tigers. We’re also not making a giant leap to suggest Corry knows a thing or two about England and winning Six Nations championships. So who better than the 2003 Grand Slam winning forward to shed light on Martin Johnson’s resurgent England side and their 2011 RBS 6 Nations campaign…
Hi Martin, thanks for speaking to us today. How are you?
Yeah I’m well thank you.
So England have just notched their fourth win out of four. What have you made of their recent renaissance?
I’ve been really impressed. The crucial one was France at Twickenham. Because they are quite a young side we’ll see how they react to this pressure but so far I’ve been really impressed with them.
Things have gone to plan in the championship so far and now only Ireland in Dublin stand in their way. What do you make of their threat?
I think Ireland are improving game-on-game. It’s difficult to judge where they are at the moment. When Ireland play England they always raise their game and it’s a really tough place to go and win. Before the Scotland match I thought they were playing a really exciting, high-risk brand of rugby. Now with those high risks came a big opportunity for England. As with Scotland if you give Ireland too much ball they can make England look silly so Ireland will be a very big threat.
You were part of the fold in winning Six Nations campaigns of 2000, 2001 and, of course, 2003. But since then England have had a barren spell including the four campaigns until you retired in 2007. Can you highlight the key factors that explain the change in fortunes pre and post 2003?
You need to be going into the Six Nations with a good settled side and if you’re still making changes and looking for your best team then you’re going to struggle and the Six Nations is won or lost in one game. One poor defeat and you’re out of the running and looking at a best runners-up spot. That’s where England have been all too often. Looking at it this year England are in prime position for the Grand Slam and it stems from the first game. If you can get off to a flying start then you can start looking ahead. In the past that’s the thing England haven’t had.
After that seminal year of 2003 Sir Clive Woodward stepped down and Andy Robinson was made England manager. Following him was Brian Ashton who took a faltering national team all the way to the 2007 World Cup final. Johnson ultimately replaced him in 2008. What did you make of that decision?
I think you can’t always keep looking back over your shoulder at what may have been and what should have been. I think Brian’s been there when England have been at their most successful. Sometimes your circumstances count against you. Jonno came in and results didn’t go for him straight away but he stuck to his plan and stuck to his philosophy. He’s grown in his role and now we’re seeing the benefits of sticking with him. I believe the most important thing of building a successful side is getting the right people and once you’ve got them you put your confidence in them and give them stability – so you stick with them. There was a huge amount of pressure on Jonno. The team weren’t playing well; they were chopping and changing. But now he’s had these players for a period of time you can actually see a real bond, a real structure about England, and it’s great to see.
So do you feel it is more judgement than luck in this England team coming good this season?
Oh without doubt. Jonno came into the job as a World Cup winner and everything else to his name but it doesn’t just happen when you walk into a job. You’ve got to have time to develop your players and have your team grow. He’s made a lot of changes to the team he inherited. He had a lot of injuries and so now from the outside looking in you can see the team that’s developed under him. The results speak for themselves but I’d also say the manner of England’s play shows how the players are reacting to him and performing and it’s first class.
Who would have thought a big, lumbering lock would bring this free-running, attacking game to his England side. Playing with him for England and Leicester did you see this adventurous side in him?
[Laughs] Yeah I know what you’re saying. I think times are changing the game is changing and rules are changing as well. Also, the players he has to choose from lend themselves to playing this style and the biggest credit for him is he’s not just taken the way he’s played under successful coaches. He’s just said this is the best style of rugby for this England squad. I think it’s great credit to Jonno that he’s allowed the team to grow in this manner.
You played alongside Jonno with club and country for six seasons. What qualities did you recognise in him then that you feel he’s brought to his coaching? Tom Wood spoke of his man management skills…
Yeah I think that’s very important to get the best out of the players. He had that as a captain. You set the example and it’s very easy to do that when you’re out on the training field. He’s got that style to him. But people don’t give him credit for actually having a very astute rugby brain. He knows about people. He knows what makes people tick but also he knows the game of rugby. When he took the job everybody was whining about his lack of experience. Now we’ve got to be careful because he hasn’t won anything yet [as a coach] but he has everything that it takes.
How much do you think he’ll be enjoying these verbal clashes with Wales’ Warren Gatland and France’s Marc Leivremont?
That won’t bother him. He doesn’t say much at the best of times. He’ll just be brewing over it quietly and to his credit he hasn’t got involved in all of it. He protects his players and looks after them and that’s all he’s interested in. He’s not interested in verbal points scoring.
Do you think the team is susceptible to mind games because everyone keeps on having a pop in the build up to these games?
It’s a game of rugby; it’s a collision sport. It might make a difference in football but in terms of rugby it doesn’t. Just look at how it’s worked before. Warren Gatland had a pop at Dylan Hartley before the Wales game and then Dylan came out and played one of his best games for England. So if you do think playing these games work then I suggest you’re certainly deluded about a rugby player’s mindset.
Well it would be nice if all this mudslinging stirred a winning Six Nations performance out of England.
Yes, wouldn’t it just.
You made over 270 appearances for the Tigers, becoming their captain after Jonno retired. Do you feel the club can be the key to England’s success?
I think it’s important to have a very strong club game. Leicester have their very own style and manner of winning but certainly there’s a tremendous work ethic that comes out of Leicester. You just have to look at the performances of [Ben] Youngs and [Toby] Flood at No9 and No10 for England. They’ve been instrumental in Leicester’s success but they’ve also been the same for the national team. It really helps when you have combinations and it helps when they are combinations from a successful club.
The combinations in the pack of 2003 were largely built around Leicester with yourself, Jonno, Julian White, Dorian West, Ben Kay, Neil Back and Lewis Moody. We have a similar situation today with Moody again, Dan Cole, Louis Deacon and Tom Croft. Is there something about the Tigers’ training facilities or scouting network that really stand out?
Well as with all successful clubs they work hard. We work incredibly hard and set ourselves high standards. Those high standards are going to be suitable for club and country.
In May it will be two years since you hung up your boots on a marvellous career. Are you still involved in the game?
I am still involved, obviously doing this with Guinness, but it’s more behind the scenes than a hands-on coaching role at the moment.
Well Martin, thanks again for giving us your insights.
No problem. Good to speak to you.
Thanks.
Bye now.
Martin Corry was speaking on behalf of GUINNESS, Official Beer Partner of the RBS 6 Nations. For exclusive rugby content go to www.facebook.com/guinnessgb