Absentees reveal Woodward's hand

In announcing Phil Vickery as captain of the England second string, Clive Woodward today did more than simply name the side that will take on the New Zealand Maori on Monday night.

The England coach, who admitted on arrival in Wellington he had one eye on next weekend’s crunch match with the All Blacks, also revealed his Test match hand.

While Vickery leads out a strong side for what he predicts will be a “fantastic match” at the Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth, the 15 men who began England’s Grand Slam decider against Ireland in March will remain on ice in Wellington.

Woodward’s move was not entirely unpredictable, particularly as he has already promoted the benefits of England enjoying a settled side.

“It is good because we have got a pretty short amount of time to prepare for this Test match (against New Zealand),” he said.

Vickery, who will captain England for the fourth time, has 30 Test caps but missed the majority of Gloucester’s Premiership season after undergoing a back operation.

So the 27-year-old is relishing the opportunity for competitive match practice in a bid to win back his tight-head Test spot from veteran Jason Leonard.

And competitive matches are the one thing guaranteed against the New Zealand Maori.

“My opposite number Greg Feek is an outstanding loose head who played his part in the Crusaders reaching the Super 12 final and I’m looking forward to playing against him,” said Vickery, who led England to a memorable Test win in Argentina last summer.

“I’m delighted to be given a further opportunity to captain England.

“New Zealand Maori are an excellent side, full of internationals and Super 12 experience. We’ve got a strong team as well, with a large number of capped players, which should ensure that Monday is a fantastic game.”

The Maori’s reputation for passionate, intense rugby provides the ideal environment for Woodward to blood newcomers and hand fringe players the opportunity to push their claims for Test selection.

The tour opener will feature Wasps centre Stuart Abbott in an England shirt for the first time, Gloucester’s England A flanker Andy Hazell on the openside of an exciting back-row and the return of Iain Balshaw at fullback.

The centre pairing of Abbott and Newcastle’s Jamie Noon will be the side’s inexperienced link, but both enjoyed impressive seasons in the Premiership and each has shone at Twickenham inside the last fortnight.

Noon was England’s outstanding player in the friendly defeat to the Barbarians, capping a sensational performance with two tries, while Abbott carved Gloucester apart as Wasps won the Grand Final last weekend.

“The last two weeks have quite easily been the most eventful of my career to date,” said the former South Africa Under-23 international, who played Super 12 rugby for the Stormers.

“The win against Gloucester, the tour call-up and now the chance to play the New Zealand Maori on Monday have provided me with some excellent opportunities. I am looking forward to the game, which will be a huge challenge for me.”

He and Noon will play outside England’s reserve Test halfbacks Kyran Bracken and Paul Grayson – who boast 69 caps between them – while Gloucester flyer James Simpson-Daniel is fully fit and will start on the opposite wing to Dan Luger.

Alongside Hazell in the back row is Leicester and British Lions flanker Martin Corry with Wasps’ Joe Worsley at number eight.

Trevor Woodman and hooker Dorian West complete the front row, with Simon Shaw and Steve Borthwick the locks.

The pack will need to steel themselves for a bruising encounter against a Maori outfit featuring just one change from the side that beat Tonga 47-12 last Monday, with Troy Flavell starting in place of the injured skipper Jono Gibbes.

Flanker Taine Randell will assume the captaincy while Christian Cullen, who also missed out on All Black selection, will start only his second game for the Maori.

The Hurricanes fullback is New Zealand’s leading try scorer but was not considered for a recall to the Test squad despite Leon MacDonald being forced out complaining of headaches.

Doug Howlett appears likely to start at fullback for the All Blacks against England with Joe Rokocoko and Caleb Ralph on the wings to form a lightning-quick back three.

The culture for attacking rugby is not exclusive to the national XV, though, and Te Pou believes his side to be more naturally exciting than the tourists.

They have stretched Australia twice in the last two years after their incredible seven-year unbeaten run was ended at the Sydney Football Stadium in 2001.

“The New Zealand Maori are a strong side with some excellent wins in the last couple of seasons, including Argentina and Scotland,” Woodward acknowledged.

England: I Balshaw; D Luger, J Noon, S Abbott, J Simpson-Daniel; P Grayson, K Bracken; T Woodman, D West, P Vickery (captain), S Shaw, S Borthwick, M Corry, A Hazell, J Worsley.

Replacements: M Regan, M Worsley, T Palmer, P Volley, A Gommarsall, A King, B Johnston.

New Zealand Maori: C Cullen; J Maddock, R Gear, B Fleming, R Nicholas; G Jackson, D Gibson; G Feek, S McFarland, C Hayman, T Flavell, K Ormsby, P Tito, M Parkinson, T Randell (captain).

Replacements: B Haami, W Walker, B Robins, W Ormond, R Robinson, D Manu, S Linklater.