Moody previews England's World Cup chances

Talking Rugby Union caught up with former England captain and Leicester Tigers legend Lewis Moody this week to hear his thoughts on Steffon Armitage’s omission from the England side and the upcoming World Cup

The one-time open side knows a thing or two about the number seven shirt and believes England have missed a huge opportunity by choosing not to select Armitage. The barnstorming back-row forward has won worldwide acclaim since his move to Toulon.

‘It’s a tragedy that he (Armitage) is not available for selection but that’s the choice you make going to France’ Moody said.  

‘No doubt he could have had a big impact and contributed to this England side but we wont ever get to see that unless of course he was to come back’

Moody clearly feels the loss of a player of the standard of Armitage is substantial. The former Bath man is still confident however that this England side has the capability to navigate their way out of tough pool and challenge at the business end of the competition.

‘I think they will make it out (of their pool). They have proven they can beat Wales, they have proven they can beat Australia and by the end of this years Six Nations they will be in a strong position’.

He highlights the role the players returning from injury will have on a squad struggling for depth this year.

‘As long as they get all their injured players back and able to contend they will find themselves in a very formidable position’.

A significant air of optimism from Moody but it isn’t just England that he has high hopes for from the northern hemisphere sides. In previous World Cups the divide would have been stark between the big three from the southern hemisphere and the rest but he isn’t so sure this time around.

‘I don’t think it will be as big as before. You look at Ireland, you look at England, you look at Wales and all of these teams are ahead of Australia at the minute. Are we ahead of South Africa and New Zealand? No, but at the minute we’re pushing.

Wales beating South Africa, Ireland beating South Africa, these are two significant victories. Come the World Cup I think it will be fairly even keel between the top six or seven sides, with the New Zealand just ahead on top’.

England can take small solace from these words given how round three of the Six Nations panned out but Moody is not alone in his optimism for a northern hemisphere assault on the Webb Ellis trophy and who knows, come October this optimism could become a reality. 

This interview took place as Lewis took part in the City Index Celebrity Trader Challenge. Lewis Moody is currently running the Lewis Moody foundation, which supports young families facing a life threatening or serious illness, as well as funding research through The Brain Tumour Charity