This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/06/alex-corbisiero-revitalised-northampton-england-rugby

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Alex Corbisiero refreshed after missing England’s defeat to All Blacks Alex Corbisiero refreshed after missing England’s series defeat to All Blacks
(35 minutes later)
Alex Corbisiero is confident the decision to rest his troublesome knee this summer will pay dividends for England and Northampton ahead of a crucial campaign. Alex Corbisiero is confident the decision to rest his troublesome knee this summer will pay dividends for England and Northampton next season.
A serious knee injury meant Corbisiero spent the majority of last season on the sidelines but the loosehead prop returned in time to help Saints lift the Challenge Cup and their first Premiership title.A serious knee injury meant Corbisiero spent the majority of last season on the sidelines but the loosehead prop returned in time to help Saints lift the Challenge Cup and their first Premiership title.
Despite his impressive displays, Corbisiero was told to take the summer off rather than join England’s tour of New Zealand, which ended in a 3-0 series defeat.Despite his impressive displays, Corbisiero was told to take the summer off rather than join England’s tour of New Zealand, which ended in a 3-0 series defeat.
With the 2015 World Cup just around the corner and a defence of the Premiership crown to sustain, Corbisiero believes the rest will make a considerable difference in the coming months. With the 2015 World Cup just around the corner and a defence of the Premiership title to sustain, Corbisiero believes the rest will make a considerable difference in the coming months.
“As tough a decision as it was to say no, it was the right decision, a big-picture decision so I’m happy with the choice I made,” said Corbisiero. “As tough a decision as it was to say no, it was the right decision, a big-picture decision, so I’m happy with the choice I made,” said Corbisiero, who used the time off to visit his family in the US. “There’s a massive domestic season to get through, some big internationals to get through and then some minimal time off before the World Cup, which is probably going to be the pinnacle of my career.
“There’s a massive domestic season to get through, some big internationals to get through and then some minimal time off before the World Cup, which is probably going to be the pinnacle of my career.
“So to have this time off looking forward to the next 15 months ahead was massive and I feel very lucky to have that opportunity.”“So to have this time off looking forward to the next 15 months ahead was massive and I feel very lucky to have that opportunity.”
He continued: “Watching every test was pretty tough – sitting at my laptop in New York watching it online is never easy, you always want to play for your country. He continued: “Watching every Test was pretty tough – sitting at my laptop in New York watching it online is never easy, you always want to play for your country.
“But I was thankful for the rest I had and I feel very refreshed. It was good to be away from rugby, spend some time with my family and get ready for what’s going to be a big season hopefully for club and country.”“But I was thankful for the rest I had and I feel very refreshed. It was good to be away from rugby, spend some time with my family and get ready for what’s going to be a big season hopefully for club and country.”