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VERSAILLES - England stand-in captain Martin Corry admits the team haven't lived up to the billing of champions as they head into their quarter-final play-off with Tonga.
Whichever side wins Saturday's match at Paris' Parc des Princes will join pool A table-toppers South Africa in the last eight,
with the loser going home.
That England find themselves facing the prospect of a first-round exit is a reflection of their form after they won the Cup four years ago. Since that November night in Sydney when Martin Johnson, as captain, lifted the Webb Ellis trophy, England have won just 18 out of their subsequent 43 tests.
Corry, a member of the victorious 2003 squad in Australia, asked if the winning experience would have any bearing on Saturday's game, said: "It pains me to say it doesn't because of how we've been since we won it in 2003. We haven't really done the title of world champions justice since then."
The 33-year-old back-row forward, who scored two tries during England's 44-22 win over Samoa, will continue to lead the side even though designated captain Phil Vickery is available.
Vickery missed England's 36-0 defeat by South Africa - the side's record Cup loss - and the Samoa match after being banned for two games for tripping United States centre Paul Emerick during an unconvincing 28-10 pool-opening win in Lens.
He will be on the bench for the Tonga encounter, with Matt Stevens retaining his place at tighthead prop.
For Corry, becoming captain again would have seemed a far-fetched idea when Brian Ashton, in one of his first acts after taking over from unsuccessful coach Andy Robinson in November, axed the Leicester man as skipper.
"I fully understood Brian's reasons for it and if I'd been in his position I'd have done the same thing," said Corry, who has played 60 tests. "The old system wasn't working, we had to make changes."
And he was surprised at retaining the captaincy this week. "I thought Vicks would come back, but then again he's on the bench. He'll come on at some stage and when he does he'll take on his rightful role as captain.
"Vicks has had two games out and for whatever reason, if they bring him back gently or if it's a vote of confidence for Matt Stevens, it's not an easy team to break into.
"The most important thing for me is that I'm in the starting XV. If they feel I'm suitable for captain on top of that then I'm equally happy with that."
Tonga caused the upset of the pool so far by beating Samoa 19-15, and ran the Springboks close, losing by five points. "I think South Africa probably underestimated them," Corry said.
"Tonga played very, very well. We're taking Tonga as a very dangerous threat."
AFP
