In the absence of the rested Martin Johnson and Neil Back, who have led England through the winter months, Woodward confirmed yesterday he wants Dallaglio to captain a squad in two Tests against Argentina on June 22 and 29 followed by a one-off Test against the Springboks in Pretoria on July 6.

Dallaglio has not played for England since being forced home early from last year's Lions tour but his ferocious determination to regain fitness has persuaded Woodward it is time to restore him to the job he lost in 1999 after lurid tabloid allegations.

Accompanying Dallaglio, Woodward insists, will be a strong squad lacking only the likes of Johnson, Back, Richard Hill, Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson, who all played full parts in the Lions tour of Australia.

"There is no way it will be a development side," said Woodward, due to announce the team to play Italy tomorrow. "We will be taking big-name players such as Lawrence, Kyran Bracken, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and Ben Kay. I believe we can take a team which can beat Argentina and South Africa."

Woodward's efforts to organise any sort of tour after the collapse of the scheduled trip to the South Seas looked doomed until South Africa indicated they were prepared to change their pre-arranged Test date with Argentina on June 29, thus freeing the Pumas to host England.

More than one English club coach, however, believes Woodward would be better advised to give all his leading men a much needed break. The England management's counter- argument is that the squad need to spend as much time as possible together to improve their chances of winning next year's World Cup.

· New Zealand defeated France 71-18 in the final of the World U-19 championship in Treviso, Italy. Scotland beat England 17-10 in the play-off for fifth place.

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