hoping for better fortune in this year's Classic with a team which appears, on paper, to be a bit more superior than in previous years.

Unfortunately, failure to make the final in the last two years has moved England down in the seeding, with the result that they are seeded to meet New Zealand in the semi-final rather than the final.

A narrow defeat by the Barbarians last year by 15-10 was a bitter blow to England and there is a definite air of determination in the camp this year to do better. Last year a win against the Barbarians would have put England in the final, this year the win will have to be over New Zealand.

Peter Winterbottom, with 58 caps and England's most capped flanker, and Gary Rees, with 20 caps to his credit, are bound to have quite an influence on the game, cutting down the opposition early in their tracks. Big Wade Dooley, with 55 caps, will certainly be a match for the likes of Andy Haden and Jock Ross in the New Zealand line out should both teams advance as seeded.

Peter Williams, unfortunately sidelined early last year with a bike injury, will be keen to make up for that disappointment and his partnership with Marcus Hannaford, the England B scrumhalf is bound to be a good one.

Former England captain Mike Harrison (15 caps) leads the team and with Gary Pearce (36 caps) and Paul Rendall (28) bringing some additional experience to a pack which contains over 200 caps England will be hoping to walk down the aisle come the final a week from Saturday.

In between there are games against Argentina (Sunday 3.30 p.m.) and the winner of New Zealand versus Canada on Wednesday (8.15 p.m.), but there is no doubt that England will not be satisfied with anything less than their name on the trophy for the first time.

Squad: Simon Langford (fullback, Orrell), Howard Lamb (wing, London-Irish), Rob Lozowski (centre, Wasps), Fran Clough (centre, Wasps), Brian Barley (centre, Wakefield), Simon Hogg (wing, Bristol), Mike Harrison (wing, Wakefield), Peter Williams (outhalf, Orrell), Marcus Hannnaford, scrumhalf, Gloucester), Paul Rendall (prop, Wasps), Austin Sheppard (prop, Bristol), John Olver (hooker, Herlequin), Gary Pearce (prop, Northampton), Wade Dooley (lock, Preston G), Steve Boyle (lock, Gloucester), Gary Rees (flanker, Nottingham), Bob Hesford (number 8, Bristol), Peter Winterbottom (flanker, Harlequin), Mark Rigby (flanker, Wasps), A.MacFarlane (number 8, Sale), Glyn Mosses (flanker), G.Hartley (centre), Mike Coley (manager, Gloucester), Jonathan Cooke (physio).

The Mid Atlantic Rugby Union squad arrives in Bermuda tomorrow to play the Bermuda national squad on Monday at Nationals at 12.15 as a curtain-raiser to the second day's matches of the World Rugby Classic. This squad of 25 is managed by co-ordinator Al Little and the area of selection comprises the East Penn Potomac and Virginia Rugby Unions in USA and they have 50,000 players to choose from. The squad currently boasts five current members of the USA national team, the Eagles. The Bermuda team is essentially the team which had such success of Europe earlier this year. Eight Bermudians are included in the team.

KEY MAN -- Wade Dooley (right) is in the England squad