Moody: Foundations are there for Jones to thrive in England role

Lewis Moody expects Eddie Jones to ‘tap into new talent’ which English rugby has to offer, but doesn’t believe a massive upheaval in the squad is necessary as he feels the foundations to be successful are already in place.

Jones, who has not yet officially began his work at Twickenham due to him waiting for a work visa, signed a four-year deal to replace Stuart Lancaster after the recent World Cup catastrophe.

The Australian will know the huge task that faces him and there will no doubt be changes in and around the squad.

The first port of call for Jones is likely to be about his backroom staff as Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt are all still employed from the Lancaster era.

And once Jones has recruited the new staff which he believes can help him take England forward, it’s down to business on the pitch with the 6 Nations now only two months away.

But Moody insists while there is bound to be change on and off the field before February, Jones should look at the experience within the squad and mix that with the talent which is emerging across the country in order to be successful.

“I do think it is an exciting appointment and I think Eddie will not be afraid to set out his stall,” said Moody, speaking at the launch of Natwest RugbyForce.

“He’s a thinker. He thinks outside the box, a bit like Sir Clive Woodward, and I think Eddie is a very ruthless individual.

“That’s down to the way he approaches the game with a very detailed and disciplined style, but most importantly he has got a proved track record of success.

“He won’t be scared into tapping into some of the talent we have on display and that talent is clear based on how well some of the players are currently performing on the European stage.

“But, that isn’t to say the current squad isn't talented. The foundations are there already for him to be successful.

“There will be changes, but with a guy like Eddie Jones as coach and with a few additions, there is no reason why we can’t be going for a 6 Nations.”

One of the main talking points which has cropped up since Jones took the England job two weeks ago, is the fact he is sticking with the policy not to select English players who are playing their domestic rugby oversees.

Some argue that keeping all the English talent in the Aviva Premiership will only improve the national team, but there was a frustration that the likes of Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon weren’t even considered for the recent World Cup.

Moody does understand the concern that these big name players aren’t even in the running for an England jersey, but can see the benefits behind the decision.  

He said: “There has never been a lack of talent in England.  The quality is abundant and the player pool is enormous and that just isn’t in England, but in Europe as well.

“It does frustrate me when you can’t have some of your best players at least contest for a position in the squad, but I do totally understand it.

“We don’t want to be in a position in England where the main majority of players are playing their domestic rugby abroad. That isn’t healthy for the domestic game.

“The main point from all of this though, is that we do have a lot of talent at our disposal and if you mix that with the talent and experience already in the squad with the likes of Mike Brown, Jonathan Joseph, George Ford, Anthony Watson, Owen Farrell, Dan Coles, Courtney Lawes, Joe Lauchbury etc. then all is needed is a few tweaks and it will make for an exciting time.”

Jones’ first task will be negotiating the 6 Nations in February with England beginning their campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield as they go in search of their first title since 2011.

And Moody has a strong belief that England will have lifted the 6 Nations trophy, on at least once occasion, by the end of the 2017 tournament.

He added: “I think the only difficulty will be, is if Eddie Jones will have enough time to implement his style of play and what he wants from the team before the 2016 tournament.

"I don’t doubt that over the next 14-15 months that England would’ve won a 6 Nations or be in a position to win two. We do have a strong squad, but ultimately they got it very wrong at the World Cup.

“But now with Eddie coming in, you know the detail he will go to and I certainly think we will be in a strong positon come next year’s 6 Nations in what will be an interesting and exciting competition."

Lewis Moody is a NatWest RugbyForce 2016 ambassador, encouraging rugby clubs to enter for the opportunity to attend free workshops, receive financial support and pitch maintenance sessions from the RFU’s head groundsman Keith Kent. Register at www.englandrugby.com/natwestrugbyforce