Flyn still showing glimpses of his past

James Grogan scores a try against West Coast. Picture by Paul Rickard

FORMER All Black hooker Corey Flynn has not ruled out taking up a coaching job when he hangs up his boots.

“The coaching option is a different beast but if something pops ups, for sure I’d be interested,” said the 36-year-old, who came off the bench for West Coast in the Heartland Championship clash with LeaderBrand Poverty Bay in Gisborne at the weekend.

“The skill level in the Heartland is a good standard; teams like to throw the ball around, which is the nature of teams in New Zealand.

“Having watched Poverty Bay against East Coast, we knew they would do that. But even though we knew what they would do, they got on a roll after halftime and we capitulated (the Bay scored 22 unanswered points in the second half), which was frustrating.

“We played well enough to win, having the better of the first 40, but didn’t capitalise.”

Flynn is one of four former All Blacks plying their trade in the Heartland Championship, the others being Piri Weepu (Wairarapa Bush), Regan King (Mid Canterbury) and Alby Mathewson (King Country).

Flynn played for French club Toulouse in the Top 14 in France, and for Glasgow Warriors in the Pro 14 championship (clubs in Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales and South Africa). While he was unable to prevent West Coast from going down 36-19, he showed glimpses of his class.

“It’s been refreshing,” he said.

“The boys are great crack and all want to do well for the province.

“We’ve got players based in Christchurch, Nelson and the West Coast. They do their own training during the week and get together on Friday for a run.

“It’s not ideal but it is what it is.”

On the subject of former All Blacks returning to grassroots rugby when their international careers were over, Flynn said “it depended on the body”.

“I got a lot of injuries playing at the top early on and it’s hard to come back to that level . . . those boys are too physical and too quick.

“Before I left France, I had a talk with Mike Connors (West Coast chief executive) and he asked me if I came back to New Zealand would I play for West Coast and I said, ‘Why not’.

“When I came back, Mike called me up and he reminded me of that conversation, so here I am.”