MARTIN CORRY will lead England into their most important Test match since the 2003 World Cup final on Friday night, claiming: “Captaincy is not something I strive for.”

England World Cup captain Phil Vickery has failed to reclaim a place in the starting line-up for Friday night's tournament eliminator against Tonga at Parc des Princes.

MARTIN CORRY has declared England’s record World Cup defeat against South Africa must not be a “a terminal hammer blow” for the struggling Webb Ellis Trophy holders.

MARTIN CORRY claims England will “draw strength from adversity” when they go into battle as huge World Cup underdogs against South Africa tonight.

Jonny Wilkinson will not be involved in England’s crunch World Cup clash against South Africa in Paris on Friday night.

Frederic Michalak and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will form the half-back partnership combination for France when they take on England in a World Cup warm-up match in Marseille tomorrow.

England boss Brian Ashton has named his 30-man World Cup squad – with Mike Tindall and Charlie Hodgson the big-name casualties.

ENGLAND boss Brian Ashton has backed his squad of “part-timers, plumbers and decorators” to tackle a job their critics believe is mission impossible — challenging the Springboks in South Africa.

Jason Robinson will captain an England squad containing seven uncapped players on the two-Test tour of South Africa.

Martin Corry will captain England in their RBS 6 Nations Championship game against Italy at Twickenham a week on Saturday.

England coach Andy Robinson has named an unchanged team for Saturday’s World Cup final rematch against Australia at Twickenham.

JASON ROBINSON admitted he felt “blessed” to have been awarded the England captaincy for Saturday’s Test against Canada at Twickenham.

Gloucester 55 Ulster 13

Neath-Swansea Ospreys have made no fewer than five changes from their first day defeat to Stade Francais for the visit of Munster to The Gnoll on Sunday (3pm).

Olly Barkley has been left out of the England side for their RBS 6 Nations title showdown with France in Paris on Saturday.

GARY LONGWELL has been called into the Irish squad for the Six Nations game against England at Twickenham tomorrow week.

Chris Jones will make his first Test match start in England's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Paul Grayson has been handed the task of replacing World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson in England’s RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against Italy.

England boss Sir Clive Woodward tonight axed three members of his World Cup-winning squad for next Sunday’s Six Nations championship opener against Italy in Rome.

Wasps centre Stuart Abbott will make his World Cup debut when England tackle Samoa at the Telstra Dome on Sunday.

MIKE CATT was last night celebrating a call from the international wilderness to join England’s World Cup elite in their quest for global supremacy.

England boss Clive Woodward today announced his 30-man World Cup squad – and there are no places for Lions Austin Healey, Graham Rowntree and Simon Shaw.

Matt Dawson is out of England’s Test match against New Zealand in Wellington after failing to overcome a thigh injury.

Wasps centre Stuart Abbott will make his first appearance in an England shirt on Monday after he was today named in a strong side to face the New Zealand Maori.

WORLD Cup recognition will be on the minds of all the players when Ireland and England clash in the A international at Donnybrook this evening, kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Martin Johnson will regain the captaincy from stand-in Jonny Wilkinson for England’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on March 22.

Kyran Bracken has been handed a shock recall to the England side for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Wales in Cardiff.

ENGLAND supremo Clive Woodward last night refused to write off the struggling Springboks as inferior opposition for his all-conquering team, and insisted: ‘‘We have got massive respect for them.’’

Liam Botham is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Jason Robinson by using his England A selection as the springboard to a full international call-up.