Corry issues Tigers roar

Leicester's double heroes will head back to work on Monday with skipper Martin Corry insisting the trophy-hungry Tigers still have unfinished business. [more]

Lions Australia Tour 2013

Leicester’s double heroes will head back to work on Monday with skipper Martin Corry insisting the trophy-hungry Tigers still have unfinished business.

Leicester added the Guinness Premiership title to last month’s EDF Energy Cup triumph by blitzing Gloucester 44-16 at Twickenham.

But English rugby union headquarters beckons again on Sunday, when Tigers face a Heineken Cup final appointment with fellow Premiership heavyweights Wasps.

And England number eight Corry will demand one last push as Leicester look to complete an unprecedented treble.

He said: "We’ve got to make sure there is no complacency. Yes, we will enjoy the victory against Gloucester, but come Monday, it’s all about recovery and concentrating on Wasps.

"We are delighted with what has happened so far this season, but no-one is going loopy about it.

"We will only start being satisfied with what we’ve done this season when we reach the end of the campaign and look back.

"We had a good day on Saturday, but we have got to turn up again at Twickenham next weekend and do it again, then do it again next season."

Leicester’s seven-try triumph ended a five-year wait for the Premiership title, yet head coach Pat Howard echoed Corry’s sentiments, claiming: "Form is a week in, week out thing.

"Last week, Gloucester scored 50 points against Saracens and played really well, so what we did in the Premiership final guarantees us nothing next week."

Tigers’ blockbusting Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi claimed a try double, with Corry, Andy Goode, Shane Jennings, Lewis Moody and Frank Murphy also touching down during a fourth one-sided Premiership final in the last five years.

Tuilagi caused most of Gloucester’s mental and physical anguish, raising the alarming prospect that he could do something similar when Samoa face World Cup pool opponents England in Nantes on September 22.

If the reigning world champions lose to South Africa at Stade de France eight days earlier, then 26-year-old Tuilagi and his team-mates could effectively barge England through the exit door at an embarrassingly early stage of proceedings.

Corry said: "It’s fantastic playing alongside Alesana, although come the World Cup I wouldn’t be 100% keen (playing against him).

"He has worked exceptionally hard at his game – he has always had the raw material – but his finishing is immense.

"There have been plenty of times this season when he has got us out of a tight hole, not just with his finishing, but also with his ball carrying.

"He is first-class, I can’t speak highly enough of the bloke. He is an exceptional talent, and one of those you are delighted to have on your side."

Little went right for Gloucester, who lost skipper Marco Bortolami just hours before kick-off due to a knee injury, then saw stand-in captain Peter Buxton suffer a broken hand after 16 minutes that will effectively rule him out of England’s two-Test South Africa tour.

Gloucester head coach Dean Ryan said: "For the young guys in our team it is about learning, and it should never be seen to be anything else.

"For us, development is long-term. It is not done in weeks – it is done with some hurt and experiences like this one.

"If we can reach finals when we are halfway up the development curve, then I would expect us to be visiting finals on a regular basis and would be disappointed if we didn’t."

Previous story Ellis to miss out on World Cup
Next story Gloucester capture Paul