Moody: Tigers, Bath and England's bright future

Rugby World Cup winner and ex-England captain Lewis Moody MBE gives us his thoughts ahead of England’s crunch match with Ireland in the Six Nations, as well as sharing his feelings on the fortunes of his two former Premiership clubs Bath and Leicester Tigers.

Moody, 36, represented England 71 times, scoring nine tries between 2001 and 2011, lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in Sydney, in 2003, and views this weekends contest with Ireland as the biggest game of Stuart Lancaster’s reign so far as England Head Coach.

‘I think Ireland is the biggest game of England’s last five years, certainly of Stuart Lancaster’s reign' Moody told Talking Rugby Union.

‘Having beaten Wales they have shown they are capable, they have shown they have guts, they have shown the guys can stand up and be counted, Jonathan Joseph, Dave Attwood, James Haskell, George Ford and now they have to deliver something tangible.

‘This England side has big ambitions, so if they lose at the weekend that will be a big dent to their confidence but they would still have a chance of winning the six nations if they win their last two matches.

‘But I think England are in a phenomenal place, they just have to go out and give a quality 80 minute performance against Ireland in which it is going to be a very tough match both physically all round and mentally due to Johnny Sexton and his kicking game.’

But the former British Lion does fear the cost of losing full-back Mike Brown, who was ruled out of the clash due to concussion, could be crucial.

‘It’s a big blow for Stuart and although there is some good players around at the minute, Mike Brown has been without doubt, at international level, been brilliant and probably the most consistent player over the last few years,

‘He offers a whole amount of commitment to the side, his attitude, the way he plays the game, and conducts himself, I think gives the side a lot of confidence, especially the way he deals with the high ball. 

‘His boots are big ones to fill, but as we have found during the Lancaster reign there will be guys who will be willing step up and show what they are capable and we will see that again at the weekend.'

Moody believes this Irish side are a group of leaders, resulting in last years Six Nations championship triumph. This team characteristic will help them deal with their major injury blow after forward Jamie Heaslip was ruled out with a back injury.

‘He is a big loss but when you have guys like Sean O’Brien and Jonny Sexton around, and when you have the likes of Paul O'Connell as captain, who have been there and done it...although he will be missed, I don’t think it will impact Ireland massively, I think they will manage.

And Moody also gave his expert opinion on the other two Six Nations fixtures this upcoming weekend.

‘Scotland have been playing well so you would like to think they could beat Italy but Italy went well for a good period of time so that will be a tough match,

‘Wales and France is going to be a tight one to call, France have not quite been at the races, Wales have not quite been at the races, but if I was going to call it I would say France have got the edge.’

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Switching focus to domestic rugby Moody believes his old side Leicester Tigers, who he played for 223 times in 14 years, are in the middle of a major stage of transition after failing to score a try in the last 300 minutes of play.

‘I think the club is going through a big transition.’ Said Moody.

‘They have now elevated Gordan Murphy to a new coaching role which I think is brilliant, he has incredible amount to offer as a coach.

‘There are other areas of the game where the club has got it wrong, some of the signings in recent years have not been of the caliber that we would expect of a club like Leicester,

‘Its a tough place, when things are going wrong and your having a tough time its hard and all the gremlins come out and people get disillusioned and then you start losing quality players like Geoff Parling.

‘It’s a big club with a huge history and huge tradition and it will want to be delivering, and also I imagine they will find it tougher to pick up some real quality players if their not in finals and fighting for silverware every year.’

And the MBE also gave a mention to his other former club Bath’s title chances, who he signed for in 2010 before he hung up his boots in 2012.

‘I think they have had some tough games recently but when they have al their internationals back they will be in a good place.

‘Bath are gaining experience, they have had an LV Cup final and all sorts of other games and the more they find themselves in those play-offs the more they will learn but they will certainly be up there contending those play-offs stops I believe.'

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.