Bath flanker Lewis Moody will be out of action for 10 to 12 weeks after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Martin Johnson has launched a passionate defence of England’s under-fire World Cup captain Lewis Moody – and insisted he would make the same choice all over again.

The English Rugby Players' Association (RPA) chief executive Damian Hopley today denied that players are motivated by money as the English game reflected on its “darkest day”.

Martin Johnson today described the damning fall-out from England’s World Cup campaign as “one of the worst things I have experienced in the game”.

IN THE END, perhaps the only way to rid the English rugby team of the arrogance and self-righteousness that has pervaded their squad since 2003 was with a stick of dynamite planted firmly in the centre of the Twickenham pitch.

The Rugby Football Union have launched an investigation into the leaking of three confidential and damning reports into England’s World Cup campaign.

Lewis Moody today admitted he made mistakes as England captain during the World Cup but insisted he never put commercial gain before his rugby.

A number of England’s World Cup players were “more focused on money than getting the rugby right”, it was reported today in three leaked reports that lay bare the inside story behind the country's worst-ever World Cup performance in New Zealand.

IAN McGEECHAN believes Leinster are the team to beat in this season’s Heineken Cup and says Jonny Sexton now has the ideal mix of talent and experience to take Europe by storm once again.

WORLD CUP: Former England captain Lewis Moody insists Martin Johnson is the right man to leadEngland to the 2015 World Cup.

LEWIS Moody has announced his retirement from international rugby in the wake of England’s disappointing World Cup showing.

THE All Blacks never forgave Stephen Donald for the missed touch kick which ultimately condemned them to defeat by Australia in Hong Kong this time last year.

Lewis Moody has announced his retirement from international rugby in the wake of England’s disappointing World Cup showing.

Flanker Tom Croft has labelled speculation over Martin Johnson’s future as England manager “disgusting”.

Courtney Lawes has become the third England player to be fined for wearing a branded gumshield during the Rugby World Cup.

England captain Lewis Moody will be fined £4,800 if he is found to have worn a branded mouthguard in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by France, the IRB have said.

MARTIN JOHNSON has been backed to continue in his job by the acting chief executive of the Rugby Football Union — before an official review into England’s World Cup failure has even begun.

England captain Lewis Moody heaped praise on Scotland after Martin Johnson’s side secured a dramatic 16-12 victory in today’s World Cup Pool B clash in Auckland.

Delon Armitage will start on the left wing for England in place of Mark Cueto in Saturday’s decisive Rugby World Cup Pool B showdown with Scotland.

England 67 Romania 3

MARTIN JOHNSON insists England’s preparations for tomorrow’s clash with Romania will not be thrown off course by the arrival in Dunedin of Zara Phillips.

England 41 Georgia 10

Lewis Moody has returned from injury to captain an England team featuring nine changes for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash with Georgia.

Lewis Moody has returned from injury to captain an England team featuring nine changes for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup appointment against Georgia.

England were today considering whether to appeal against Courtney Lawes’ two-match ban for recklessly striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee.

England have completed their final training run ahead of tomorrow’s opening Rugby World Cup showdown with Argentina.

THREE days before England should have been opening their Rugby World Cup campaign in Christchurch, Martin Johnson led a red rose delegation on a goodwill visit to the earthquake-torn city.

Mark Cueto is a doubt for England’s opening Rugby World Cup match against Argentina in Dunedin on Saturday.

England captain Lewis Moody will not play in the World Cup opener against Argentina after failing to recover from a knee injury in time for Saturday’s match in Dunedin.

Defence coach Mike Ford today branded England’s World Cup pool as the “group of death”.

England’s back row resources have been stretched before they even depart for the World Cup after Tom Wood was forced to pull out of tomorrow’s final warm-up international against Ireland.

Martin Johnson has named a new-look midfield of Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Manu Tuilagi for England’s final World Cup warm-up international against Ireland on Saturday.

ENGLAND flanker James Haskell has been passed fit for selection against Ireland on Saturday.

England flanker James Haskell has been passed fit for selection against Ireland on Saturday.

TO succeed in international competition requires a range of specific characteristics but for Declan Kidney’s men, deep in preparation for the greatest rugby show on earth — the World Cup — patience is probably the most important ingredient his players need to discover at this stage.

ENGLAND captain Lewis Moody will be given every chance to prove his fitness for the World Cup after suffering a mild ligament strain in his right knee. Moody’s leadership is seen by the England management as “vital” and they have not ruled out naming him in their final 30-man squad on August 22, even if he is not 100% fit.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S US Eagles suffered a setback in their build-up towards next month’s Rugby World Cup after losing 28-22 to neighbours Canada in Toronto on Saturday.

England 23 Wales 19

LEWIS MOODY will be on trial at Twickenham today (2.30pm) after England manager Martin Johnson insisted the Rugby World Cup captaincy is still up for grabs.

Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi will make his England debut in Saturday’s Investec international against Wales at Twickenham.

Matt Stevens’ return from the ignominy of a drugs ban continued today when he was confirmed in England’s 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

England's World Cup winner Ben Cohen has announced his retirement from rugby.

England captain Mike Tindall has been referred to an ankle specialist to determine whether he will be available for Saturday's Grand Slam showdown with Ireland.