Moody targets French return and captain’s role off Tindall

Moody made a 23-minute appearance off the bench after five weeks out with knee ligament trouble in Bath’s emphatic 38-8 Aviva Premiership victory over Northampton on Saturday.

The 66 times-capped Bath flanker missed England’s opening Six Nations wins against Wales and Italy – when the Red Rose were captained by Otley-born centre Mike Tindall – but he always maintained the Twickenham appointment with France was a realistic target.

And it is now likely that both Moody and prop Andrew Sheridan, who played 70 minutes for Sale Sharks against Harlequins yesterday to allay any fears about a back problem that sidelined him when England crushed Italy eight days ago, will both return.

England manager Martin Johnson will also have noted Leicester flanker Tom Croft’s second-half comeback in the win against Wasps following three months out with a shoulder injury. But outside of Moody – whose place has been taken by James Haskell and Leeds Carnegie’s Hendre Fourie – and Sheridan, changes are not anticipated for a game that if England win it would then leave them needing to beat Scotland and Ireland for a first Six Nations title and Grand Slam since 2003.

“I feel good,” said Moody. “It was nice to have a run-out. It was a little bit stiff after the game, but I didn’t feel the knee during it, which was good. Fingers crossed, we’ve got through everything.

“Full credit to the physios, who put up with my whingeing and shouting at them over the last five weeks. They worked like stink.

“I’ve said all along that I wanted to be back for this French game. We said it was a realistic target, so we’ve all been proved right at the minute. We will see what happens, but it is just nice to be fit.”

Moody reported for England duty at their Surrey training base late yesterday, and he added: “I am going to be an excitable boy being back in the camp for real.

“It has been wonderful to see the boys do so well so far in the Six Nations. Mike Tindall has done a cracking job as captain and the guys who have come in have stuck their hands up, which bodes well in a World Cup year.

“But it has also been soul-destroying for me. I am a terrible spectator of the game, and I’ve found it difficult.”

Johnson is due to name his team to face Les Bleus on Thursday, but Moody is not counting any chickens in terms of selection.

He added: “It’s a discussion we will need to have in the week, but I’ve returned from injury and played nine minutes before being recalled to the England team, so the lack of time is not an issue. It’s not ideal, but I had 60 minutes before this season’s autumn series due to my eye injury.”

As for Sheridan, who was replaced by debutant Alex Corbisiero against Italy, Sale coach Pete Anglesea said: “He’s fine. Martin contacted us earlier in the week and wanted him to have a run-out to test his back.

And Leicester rugby director Richard Cockerill said of Croft: “He was really good – we will look to get him some more game-time next week. We don’t know how long it will be before England come for him. We will try and get as much out of him as we can.”