Vickery puts heart into odd England

As the endless winter forces his hand, Woodward turns to Gloucester's stalwart to inspire new boys

At the Good Health Bar at Twickenham, the attendance for Phil Vickery's inaugural press conference as England captain was not healthy. The Fourth Estate mustered about four representatives, a reflection not on Vickery but on the season without end.

This afternoon, England, or a team masquerading as England, play Jonah Lomu and the Barbarians. Injuries, burn-out and the counter-attractions of the World Sevens Series, yesterday's Heineken Cup final and today's climax to the Parker Pen Shield have resulted in Clive Woodward updating his contacts book.

The European finals prevented the England manager picking anybody from Leic-ester and Sale, and although no caps are being awarded, the Red Rose brigade point out that the match, which is expected to draw 65,000, is not without meaning.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for people to ply their trade in a big-match atmosphere at Twickenham against some of the best players in the world," Vickery said. "I just hope they can go out and play and not be afraid of the occasion. We've had to spend a lot of time on basic things like team calls. So many of them are not in the England set-up and this represents a massive stepping stone. They're very young but they've already proved in the Premiership that they're big-game players."

Only about half of England's original 27-man party remain, but Vickery has some familiar Gloucester faces around him. Aside from his fellow prop Trevor Woodman, there's the young No 6 James Forrester (already being compared to Tommy Voyce, a Gloucester legend of the Twenties), scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, who has flown up the pecking order, and the wing James Simpson-Daniel.

Before moving to Gloucester from Wasps, Nigel Melville worked with Simpson-Daniel at England Under-21 level. A one-time stand-off and a member of England's sevens squad, Simpson-Daniel has scored 14 tries in 17 games for Gloucester and it is as well that he is in form. Today he plays opposite Lomu, the man who has broken more wings than the Red Baron. "James has all the skills and has come on a bundle in the last few months," Vickery said. "It's going to be interesting."

The Baa-Baas, who go on to play Wales and Scotland, are captained by the All Black Todd Blackadder and a number are using the trip not just to top up their incomes (this is very good beer money indeed) but to enhance their career prospects in Britain.

While the South African wing Pieter Rossouw and the French prop Christian Califano have signed for London Irish and Saracens, Percy Montgomery is being linked with Newport and Stephane Glas with Gloucester. If Christian Cullen is out of favour with New Zealand he too could be used by a Premiership club to boost season-ticket sales.

From Kingsholm's Fortress Grim to Fortress Twickenham presents Vickery with an opportunity to impress Woodward, not so much as a raging bull of a tight-head (when he isn't injured) but as a leader, beginning against the Barbarians and then the more serious matter against Argentina in Buenos Aires next month.

In the absence of Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio, Vickery, who was introduced to the game at Bude and Redruth, has the chance to score some brownie points against the Pumas, the best scrummagers in the world. England's tour to Argentina in 1990, when the Falklands war was fresh in the memory, was the making of Jason Leonard. A hostile series would have been won 2-0 but for Jeff Probyn (who now serves on RFU disciplinary panels) throwing a punch and conceding a penalty in the dying minutes of the second Test.

"It's been a strange season," Vickery said. "I had a rest after the Lions tour and every time I tried to come back I picked up an injury. It's been nothing simple. There's always a complication involved." He also damaged a hand in the European Shield match against La Rochelle, the result of a Frenchman's face colliding with the Cornishman's fist.

"As a captain I would describe myself as quite a calm person," Vickery said. "I've been involved with some excellent captains, and I've learnt a great deal from them, but the pride that goes with being an England player is enough. When you put on the shirt you will give your all and a little bit more for the rose."

Vickery, who sports a tattoo of an English bulldog, added: "I'm not the sort to say I'm going to be like Johnson. That would be an insult. He's done everything, I've done nothing. They are strong characters but also honest. I think it comes down to respect. Everyone respects a good captain. Sometimes for what they've achieved but also for what you know they will do.

"If you have someone who will go out and give their all, players tend to follow them. The captaincy is about preparation in the week. I need to make sure everyone is focused and happy and I need to play to the best of my ability. I also need to make the right decisions but it's a team game. I'm a listener.

"We have a no-fear environment and if things are there to be done, players are encouraged to do them. Through the Six Nations there were a lot of players training for a week but who didn't play. Clive has always been good at getting people involved. He likes to look at players on the fringes and allow them to see what goes on."

At 26 Vickery, who has played only 13 matches for Gloucester this season and will captain the club in the Zurich Championship semi-finals next weekend, is still learning. Nevertheless he is regarded by Melville and Tom Walkinshaw, who earlier this week stood down from the chairmanship of Premier Rugby, as the cornerstone of the Gloucester pack.

Offered a five-year contract by Leicester, Vickery signed a four-year deal with the West Country club worth £160,000 a year. The former cattle inseminator has come up smelling of roses.