England 23 Wales 19: Injured Moody has England sweating on knee

Lewis Moody’s chances of captaining England into the Rugby World Cup will become clearer today.

Moody limped out of England’s 23-19 Rugby World Cup warm-up win against Wales with what he hopes is just a “tweak” of his right knee.

The Bath flanker missed England’s Six Nations title campaign after damaging ligaments in the same knee in January. He took the field on Saturday with heavy strapping on his leg.

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The England medics will assess Moody when he returns to the team’s base at Pennyhill Park before any decision is taken as to whether he requires a scan.

Moody’s initial fear when 18-stone team-mate Matt Banahan fell on his knee at Twickenham yesterday was that he would miss the Rugby World Cup.

Those concerns had eased by the time Moody returned to the changing room but England still have an anxious wait before he is given the all-clear.

Moody was unlikely to play in this weekend’s return match against Wales in Cardiff anyway and England will certainly take no chances with his fitness.

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England team manager Martin Johnson has Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and former Leeds Carnegie star Hendre Fourie, now at Sale, who can also play at openside flanker in a Test match.

“Lewis is usually a quick healer,” said Johnson. “It could be one of those where he is back in a week or so and ready to play Ireland.”

Johnson has previously identified Moody as the man he wants to lead England into the World Cup and he will be given every opportunity to make the plane to New Zealand.

In a worst-case scenario, Mike Tindall would be the leading contender to take over the captaincy after leading England to their four Six Nations victories last season.

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“Lewis is a very good leader for us. You have to be able to handle the loss of any one individual,” said Johnson.

Moody has played fewer than five full matches since January but Johnson believes the 2003 World Cup-winner has enough experience to be able to jump straight back into Test rugby.

“Guys who have played a lot of rugby can go in and play at Test match level a bit easier than guys who haven’t,” said Johnson.

“In 2003 Lawrence Dallaglio didn’t play a game before we went to Australia.”

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Delon Armitage is determined to keep the England full-back jersey for the Rugby World Cup after successfully relaunching his international career.

Armitage made the most of his first Test start in 17 months against Wales.

The London Irish full-back has got his swagger back and he laid down the gauntlet to rival Ben Foden with an eye-catching performance at Twickenham.

“I felt like I missed a lifetime of rugby but I am back now and ready to go,” said Armitage.

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“I have got that hunger again. I really want to be involved for England. I want that 15 shirt.

“I am pushing Ben. I want that shirt back and he knows it.”

Foden is likely to get his chance to respond in Saturday’s return match at the Millennium Stadium, before Johnson finalises his 30-man World Cup squad on August 22.

There was a time, particularly last season, when doubts hung over Armitage’s chances of securing a place on the flight to New Zealand.

The 27-year-old had enjoyed an outstanding introduction to international rugby in 2008 and he was unfortunate not to win selection for the Lions tour of South Africa the following summer.

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But a toxic combination of injury, “broken” confidence, poor form and ill-discipline halted his progress dramatically as Foden made the position his own.

Armitage was banned twice last season, including an eight-week suspension for shoving and abusing an anti-doping official which ruled him out of the Six Nations.

But England’s management kept the faith and Armitage, solid under the high ball, strong in defence and electric with the ball in hand, repaid them on Saturday.

It was as if Armitage had turned back the clock to the 2008-09 season, when he started in Johnson’s first Test having initially not been included in England’s 64-man elite squad.

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“It did feel like a second start. I was really nervous, it felt like I was starting all over again, a new debut,” said Armitage.

“When I saw the 15 jersey hanging up it brought back some awesome memories. I love playing rugby, I love playing for England.

“I am pushing Ben. I want that shirt back and he knows it and he knows I will be pushing him all the way. I like that competition. It makes us both better.”

Armitage seems certain of a seat on that plane to New Zealand but Johnson wants competition for places to be as fierce as possible, so he was delighted by Saturday’s exercise.

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“Delon is a Test match player. He just needs to be available for us to play and be in good form,” said Johnson. I have said to him all the way through, if he is in good form he is putting pressure on everyone in the back three.”

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