Now we'll see off the Scarlets, warns Corry

Apr 16 2007 Staff Reporter, Western Mail

MARTIN CORRY insists Leicester are ready to heap more cup misery on Wales by sending the Scarlets crashing out of Europe this Saturday.

The Tigers crushed the Ospreys' hopes of taking the EDF Energy Cup out of England with an emphatic 41-35 victory at Twickenham.

But the England star insists his treble-chasing Tigers will put the celebrations on ice as they prepare to end the Scarlets dreams of a first Heineken Cup final when they come face-to-face in the last four on Saturday.

"We will enjoy this moment, but we have to totally forget about this victory," said Corry.

"It's back to business on Monday morning because we have another huge test against the Scarlets.

"All our focus until now has been on the Ospreys, but we are well aware how good the Scarlets are.

"We will start trawling through the videos and analysis ahead of that game to make sure we are totally fit and firing for them on the day."

Leicester's EDF Energy Cup triumph proved sweet revenge for the Guinness Premiership following comments from Ospreys scrum-half Justin Marshall - who spent last year in England with Leeds Tykes - that the Magners League was stronger than England's top club competition.

But Tigers captain Corry insists he does not need any warning of the size of the task against the Scarlets.

"Perhaps teams in the Magners League feel the need to talk themselves up because the tournament does not get the coverage it deserves in England," he said.

"But no-one needs to tell us about the quality of the competition.

"We've played the Ospreys three times now in the past 18 months and had very tough games every time.

"It's the same with the Blues, the Scarlets and the Dragons. Welsh regional rugby is very strong at the moment and they don't need to talk themselves up."

Yesterday's victory was the first of what Leicester hope is a historic treble with the Tigers still in with a shout of reaching the Heineken Cup and Guinness Premiership play-off finals.

But it was perhaps a sign of where this competition ranks in their priorities that yesterday's post-match press conference was held up while coach Pat Howard enquired about the day's results in the Premiership.

However, tries from Tom Varndell, Tom Croft, Ben Kay and Alesana Tuilagi proved enough to survive a late Ospreys resurgence to bag their first trophy in five years and deliver the perfect confidence boost ahead of the Heineken Cup.

"Fair play to the Ospreys, it was one hell of a comeback," said Corry.

"We probably thought we had them at half-time, but we spilled possession and they are fantastic at hitting you hard from open play. They caught us a few times from 70 or 80 metres out.

"There was a bit of concern that the game was swinging their way in the second half, but the most important thing was the way they were scoring tries.

"They were all from distance and from our mistakes, so we just needed to tighten things up.

"It was never a case that they were all over us on our goal-line for long periods and we thought the tries were a concern. We just kept our composure to the end."

Coach Howard added, "It must have been a thrilling game for a neutral, but it was pretty nerve-wracking for us on the touchlines.

"We're extremely happy to have won. We've set ourselves the target of winning all three trophies and that is certainly not easy, but those are the standards and I'm totally confident my players can do it.

"This victory was testimony to the whole squad who have got us to where we are.

"But now we have to put this final to one side and focus on the Scarlets. It's a very tough turnaround but winning this cup will give everyone a huge lift."