Captain Martin Corry rued the mistakes which contributed to England's 41-20 defeat by New Zealand in the opening Investec Challenge match of the season at Twickenham yesterday.The Leicester Tigers skipper, playing at blindside and winning his 46th cap, led out England in front of a record Twickenham crowd of 82,000 but the day ended in disappointment despite seeing his team score three tries against the favorites to lift the World Cup next year.
Corry admitted that England missed too many chances as Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Carl Hayman and Dan Carter scored tries for the All Blacks.
"We are dejected because we felt we had the capabilities to beat the All Blacks. In the end mistakes cost us," Corry said. "We knew we could take the game to them but you have to take your chances.
"We always felt we could get points on the board, but we coughed up the ball when we looked like doing something. We will all make mistakes but we must never let our heads go down. All credit to the lads who kept playing and kept at it."
Leicester provided five of the England forwards, with Corry joined by hooker George Chuter, prop Julian White, openside flanker Lewis Moody and lock Ben Kay who was also a vice-captain. Chuter was replaced by Bath's Lee Mears with just four minutes of the game remaining, while the other Tigers forwards all got the full 80 minutes under their belts. A sixth Tiger, fly-half Andy Goode, was on the bench.
Corry provided the scoring pass for England winger Ben Cohen, in a move which also featured club colleagues Chuter and Moody. England's other tries were scored by centre Jamie Noon and debutant scrum-half Shaun Perry.
The England team for Saturday's Investec Challenge match against Argentina is due to be announced later today.
Corry admitted that England missed too many chances as Aaron Mauger, Joe Rokocoko, Carl Hayman and Dan Carter scored tries for the All Blacks.
"We are dejected because we felt we had the capabilities to beat the All Blacks. In the end mistakes cost us," Corry said. "We knew we could take the game to them but you have to take your chances.
"We always felt we could get points on the board, but we coughed up the ball when we looked like doing something. We will all make mistakes but we must never let our heads go down. All credit to the lads who kept playing and kept at it."
Leicester provided five of the England forwards, with Corry joined by hooker George Chuter, prop Julian White, openside flanker Lewis Moody and lock Ben Kay who was also a vice-captain. Chuter was replaced by Bath's Lee Mears with just four minutes of the game remaining, while the other Tigers forwards all got the full 80 minutes under their belts. A sixth Tiger, fly-half Andy Goode, was on the bench.
Corry provided the scoring pass for England winger Ben Cohen, in a move which also featured club colleagues Chuter and Moody. England's other tries were scored by centre Jamie Noon and debutant scrum-half Shaun Perry.
The England team for Saturday's Investec Challenge match against Argentina is due to be announced later today.
