Vickery leads England in showpiece
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Vickery takes over the captaincy from Martin Johnson
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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Only five members of England's World Cup final starting team will be on duty against the New Zealand Barbarians on December 20, coach Clive Woodward has announced.
Cup final try scorer Jason Robinson is one of the Sydney starting line-up chosen and Phil Vickery will captain the side in place of Martin Johnson.
Mike Tindall, Richard Hill and Steve Thompson will play but goal kicking hero Jonny Wilkinson is unfit.
Fullback Iain Balshaw and back rower Lewis Moody, who both came on as replacements in the final, are also included.
"I have selected a very strong England XV squad to prepare for the game and it's the most experienced of all the teams I've selected to face a Barbarians side," Woodward said.
"It contains players with nearly 500 caps between them and it's a game which gives all those taking part a fantastic opportunity to make a positive statement ahead of the 2004 Six Nations Championship.
"The squad includes 15 of the 31 from the World Cup and although I can't pick a full-strength team, as the game isn't a test match under IRB rules, it will be great to see Charlie Hodgson and James Simpson-Daniel back playing at Twickenham.
Full support
"The England and New Zealand Barbarians teams have been selected with the full support of the Premiership clubs through the selection of no more than three players from each club (including release of players to the New Zealand Barbarians).
"The game itself will be a great spectacle but I'm delighted to say that the whole England World Cup squad, including Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Lawrence Dallaglio, will be parading the Webb Ellis Cup around the stadium for a lap of honor after the game."
The day will also feature a presentation to prop Jason Leonard, to commemorate his world record 113th cap, and to Wilkinson and scrum-half Kyran Bracken, who both earned their 50th caps during the World Cup.
Squad: Stuart Abbott, Iain Balshaw, Kyran Bracken, Andy Gomarsall, Paul Grayson, Danny Grewcock, Richard Hill, Charlie Hodgson, Lewis Moody, Mark Regan, Jason Robinson, Pat Sanderson, Simon Shaw, Andrew Sheridan, James Simpson-Daniel, Ollie Smith, Steve Thompson, Mike Tindall, Phil Vickery (captain), Hugh Vyvyan, Joe Worsley, Michael Worsley.
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