Corry: easier to retain Cup than win the first

LEICESTER captain Martin Corry believes it is easier to retain the Heineken Cup than win it for the first time.

Corry’s side arrive in Thomond Park on Saturday hoping to put a dent in Munster’s plan to recapture European club rugby’s most sought after silverware.

However, with the hosts already five from five in Pool Four and on a run of 13 straight wins in the competition, the words of the former English captain are so far ringing true.

An integral member of the Leicester side that won back-to-back European titles in 2002 — the only side to have done so in the tournament’s history — he also speaks from a position of considerable experience.

“I don’t think it was more difficult because we knew that we could do it again,” he said of Leicester’s second title in 2002.

“The first year was all about doubts. ‘Can we actually go out and win this?’ “Regardless of what you actually talked about, throughout the season, until you’ve actually done it you can never be sure that you are capable of it.

“Once you’ve got that belief you know that you can do it and Munster now will be in exactly the same position.”

Munster must have had more doubts than most after two final defeats, first by Northampton and then by a Leicester side including Corry, Martin Johnson and, of course, Neil Back.

The flip side of the coin is that their litany of near misses over the years merely increased their ambition and their form in Europe this season is proof positive that, if anything, their hunger for a repeat triumph has only deepened.

Corry knows how they feel. Ten years after joining the Tigers, and with a World Cup winners’ medal keeping a clutch of Premiership and Heineken trinkets company in his cupboard, the 33-year-old is still yearning for more.

“Hunger should never be a factor when you’re talking about competitions like the European Cup. Whether you’ve won it once or you’ve won it ten times, it doesn’t matter. The past is the past and you should always be desperate for another shot at glory.”

That said, the mutual history shared by these two sides adds that bit extra spice.

Having lost to Leicester in that Millennium Stadium final five years ago, Munster exacted some revenge by relieving them of their title in the quarter-finals the following year.

That defeat was Leicester’s first at Welford Road in Europe since 2000 and Munster performed a similar feat October when their 21-19 success was the first for a visiting team at the Tigers’ home patch since January 2005.

With all that in mind, Pat Howard’s team would dearly love to be the first team to lower the Munster mast in the Heineken Cup in Limerick. Whatever the outcome, it promises to be yet another thrilling chapter in what has become one of the competition’s keynote rivalries.

“This is the great thing about the Heineken Cup, that it does develop rivalries like that. For us at Leicester we’ve got these teams that we seem to meet regularly like Munster and Stade Francais.

“These are the teams you want to be playing, especially with the traditions that Munster have, traditions that we have, which we share. It’s a game for the supporters and the players. We’ve had some great battles and hopefully this is going to be another epic.”

At Welford Road three months ago, it was indiscipline that allowed Ronan O’Gara to land that Scud from beyond the halfway line and Corry is mindful of avoiding a repeat in what will actually be his first appearance at the old ground.

“Discipline is always a crucial factor but especially when you’re up against an excellent goal kicker in Ronan. It is key.

“I think it’s going to be a tight game as well, so three points could be crucial. Having said that, we will be looking to play the game on the edge. You have to make sure that you’re on the line though, not lying over it.”