RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 –Rugby World Cup winner Lewis Moody, talks Rugby World Cup camps and England’s back-row
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A full transcript is included below and includes –
· Moody’s memories of England Training Camps: “They’ll come out of the other side feeling almost invincible.”
· Moody on Chris Robshaw at number seven: “I would like to have seen Steffon Armitage given that opportunity.”
· Ben Morgan would be Moody’s starting no.8 if fit: “He needs to prove that he’s back playing to the standard that he was before.”
· Haskell vs Wood for the no.6 shirt: “I think there’ll be a real contest for those two in that back-row position.”
LEWIS MOODY ON ENGLAND RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 CAMP
“World Cup camps are without doubt one of the most brutal experiences of your rugby playing career. Pre-seasons are all always tough but in a World Cup year particularly, because it’s not just about the physical, it’s about the mental; you’ve got to prove that you know all the calls, that you can fit and gel into the squad that Stuart’s putting together and play the style of rugby that they’re all trying to play.
“It’s a tough time but physically, it is absolutely brutal. You will be tested to your limits, whether it’s in the gym, on the training ground, or conditioning suites.”
“The guys will need to be at their fittest. They’re fit individuals anyway- rugby produce athletes now so it’s going to be one of the toughest experiences of their lives but if they’re anything like me, they will love it and they’ll come out of the other side feeling almost invincible.”
LEWIS MOODY ON ENGLAND RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 BACK-ROW
“I think in the back-row position there are a few conundrums, as there are across the field for Stuart. One position that’s now down, barring injury, is Chris Robshaw.”
“I would like to have seen Steffon Armitage given that opportunity. I think he would’ve added something very special to the squad. There’s no guarantee that he would’ve played but he certainly would’ve pushed Chris. I don’t see anyone else really applying enough pressure to Chris to move him out of that position. So he’ll be there at seven and captain.”
“At Number eight, it would be fantastic to see Ben Morgan back; he needs to prove his fitness and he needs to prove that he’s back playing to the standard that he was before. I think Billy Vunipola has done a great job but I think Ben, would be my starting number eight.”
“And at six, James Haskell’s come in and he’s been sort of reborn towards the latter stages of his career now aged 30. He’s a formidable power house, as are a lot of those back-row players now, but he’s a strong ball carrier and he’s added elements to his game.”
“And then you’ve got Tom Wood, who for so long was a mainstay of Stuart Lancaster’s side. A couple of poor performances and all of a sudden he found himself fighting to get his place back, and obviously injury as well.”
“At the moment, I would probably have James Haskell in there but I think if Tom Wood can prove himself during the warm-up games then I think they’ll be a real contest for those two in that back-row position.”
