England take on NZ Maoris
England’s midweek XV began their Test match expecting a fierce contest against a New Zealand Maori side driven by a unique pride and passion at New Plymouth.
The Maori people are united by their rugby and as such, today's clash under floodlights and teeming rain in New Plymouth promised to be a brutal, but intriguing, encounter.
Phil Vickery was captaining his country for the fourth time and in the lead-up to a match that goes beyond any traditional midweek encounter, compared the experience with leading England to victory in Argentina last summer.
He was on the sidelines the last time England played the Maori, when they suffered a nine-try mauling in Rotorua in 1998.
Of the side that played that night, only Alex King was involved this evening, but he started from the bench with Clive Woodward prefering to start with Northampton fly-half Paul Grayson in partnership with Kyran Bracken.
The pair boast 69 Test caps between them and Woodward felt their experience would be important given the centre partnership featured Stuart Abbott, making his first England appearance, and Jamie Noon.
The only other uncapped starter was Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell, who packed down in an exciting back row with number eight Joe Worsley and British Lion Martin Corry.
There was no shortage of experience on the Maori backrow either, with former All Blacks skipper Taine Randell on the openside and international Troy Flavell, who played on that infamous night five years ago, at six.
New Zealand’s all-time leading try-scorer Christian Cullen started at fullback in only his second appearance for the Maori after being overlooked for Saturday’s Test match.
