England's No 2 team vows to try harder

England coach Clive Woodward last night did as he hinted he would, naming a second-string team to play New Zealand Maori in New Plymouth on Monday.

The side includes all three rookies in the 37-member squad.

Second five-eighth Stuart Abbott and Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell will start, and flanker Paul Volley will be on the bench.

As expected, Woodward is keeping under wraps his test side to play the All Blacks in Wellington on June 14 and the Wallabies a week later in Melbourne.

Veteran international prop Phil Vickery will lead the England midweek team.

"I'm delighted to be given a further opportunity to captain England," Vickery said.

"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."

Woodward said the match would allow players on the fringe to push for test places.

"We're under no illusions about what we'll face in New Plymouth," he said.

"The Maori are a strong side with some excellent wins in the last couple of seasons, including Argentina and Scotland.

"It's a good opportunity for all the England players taking part to push their international credentials against a very tough side, and we're all treating the game as a full-on test match."

Woodward said Abbott's selection reflected the excellent season he had for his Wasps club.

Abbott, 25, said the past two weeks had been "quite easily the most eventful of my career".

"The win against Gloucester in the Zurich Premiership final last weekend, the tour call-up and now the chance to play the New Zealand Maori on Monday have provided me some great opportunities."

South African-born Abbott played for the Stormers before moving to the London Wasps about 18 months ago.



Maori coach Matt Te Pou laughs when he compares the challenge facing his team in New Plymouth with the rugby farce the last time they played England.

On the under-strength England's "Tour from Hell" in 1998, they lost 62-14 to a rampant Maori team in Rotorua, similar to the test results against Australia and the All Blacks.

This time, Te Pou expects his team to be facing a touring team motivated to the hilt.

"The guys from England who are trying to get to the World Cup have a lot to play for," he said. "And irrespective of who comes here, they'll be wearing an English jersey.

"They'll be focused, they've been improving their depth in the last couple of years, aiming at the World Cup and there's no doubt they have everything to play for."



Te Pou's only change from the team that beat Tonga 47-12 last Monday is Troy Flavell coming in for the injured Jono Gibbes.

Taine Randell will be the Maori captain.

Te Pou said the Tongan win had its benefits, but it had little relevance to Monday.

"The way Tonga played will be completely different to the way England will.

"England will be structured, focused on their set pieces - that's where the game starts.

"They're big men, but they can play an open game if they need to."

The last major test for the Maori came against Australia in Perth last year, where they pushed the Wallabies close before losing 27-23.

Teams:

England: Iain Balshaw, Dan Luger, Jamie Noon, Stuart Abbott, James Simpson-Daniel, Paul Grayson, Kyran Bracken, Joe Worsley, Andy Hazell, Martin Corry, Steve Borthwick, Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery (capt), Dorian West, Trevor Woodman. Res: Andy Gomarsall, Alex King, Ben Johnston, Mark Regan, Mike Worsley, Tom Palmer, Paul Volley.

Maori: Christian Cullen, Joe Maddock, Rico Gear, Brad Fleming, Ryan Nicholas, Glen Jackson, David Gibson, Taine Randell (capt), Matua Parkinson, Paul Tito, Kristian Ormsby, Troy Flavell, Carl Hayman, Slade McFarland, Greg Feek. Res: Willie Walker, Brendon Haami, Bryce Robins, Wayne Ormond, Reece Robinson, Deacon Manu, Scott Linklater.

- NZPA