Maoris offer fearsome test England Tour

Clive Woodward yesterday described England's outing today in New Zealand (8.35 a.m. Sky Sports One), as "a game of Test proportions" and it was only a slight exaggeration.

A fit, hungry Maori combination is every touring team's worst nightmare and, if England are to depart for Melbourne on Sunday having won on Kiwi soil, Saturday's tussle with the All Blacks may not be the harder option.

Until 2001, when they lost narrowly to the full Wallaby test side seeking a high-intensity outing prior to the Lions tour, New Zealand rugby's other pride and joy had been unbeaten for 24 games over seven years, with victories over 12 bruised international teams to show for their no-nonsense methods.

Perhaps the most illustrious punchbags in that period were England in Rotorua in 1998, when the visitors were thrashed 62-14. The half-fit Wasps outhalf Alex King was among those brushed aside by a team that included the current All Black prop Kees Meeuws, France's expatriate centre Tony Marsh and Leicester's new signing Daryl Gibson.

The Maori coach, Matt Te Pou, reckons five of his team will make this autumn's World Cup, even if the ethnicity of one of them - Christian Cullen - has been the subject of much local hilarity. But the full back's father insists his son is qualified via his great great grandparents.

England's captain for the day, Phil Vickery, is well aware of their ability. "Anyone who watches them knows the quality they have and the pride and passion they've got in the shirt is a special formula."

The Maori contribution to All Black rugby has been immense, with the skills of, among others, Waka Nathan, Sid Going, Bill Osborne, Tane Norton, Wayne Shelford, Zinzan Brooke and their current captain, Taine Randell, all earning global respect. Under Te Pou the dynasty continues.

Guardian Service

ENGLAND: I Balshaw; D Luger, J Noon, S Abbott, J Simpson-Daniel; P Grayson, K Bracken; T Woodman, D West, P Vickery (capt), S Shaw, S Borthwick, M Corry, A Hazell, J Worsley. Replacements: M Regan, M Worsley, T Palmer, P Volley, A Gomarsall, A King, B Johnston.

NEW ZEALAND MAORIS: 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 (capt). Replacements: B Haami, W Walker, B Robins, W Ormond, R Robinson, D Manu, S Linklater.