Moody chances of facing Irish 'very slim'

Leicester flanker Lewis Moody’s chances of recovering from an infected finger in time to face Ireland on Sunday are “very slim” according to England head coach Andy Robinson.

Moody suffered a cut to his finger during England’s defeat by France at Twickenham a fortnight ago and the injury became infected during a 10-minute appearance as a replacement in the Tigers’ crushing 83-10 victory over Newcastle in the Zurich Premiership last weekend.

England head coach Andy Robinson revealed that Moody was in hospital as the England squad set off to fly to Dublin this afternoon ahead of their RBS 6 Nations Championship clash at Lansdowne Road and Gloucester’s Andy Hazell is likely to take his place in Dublin.

Moody has been put on a drip in an attempt to force antibiotics through his infected finger. If the treatment is successful it is hoped he will join up with the rest of the squad tomorrow.

But Robinson admitted: “The chances of him playing are very slim. The infection is deeper than was originally thought. The mud got into it. He has had quite a big course of antibiotics but they haven’t done the job we hoped they would.

“He has now had to go into hospital and been put on a drip to force the antibiotics through.”

Moody, who visited a London hospital last night, was seeing a second specialist this afternoon.

Jones, who was placed on standby earlier this week, was due to fly to Dublin with the England squad this afternoon and will take Hazell’s place on the replacements’ bench if Moody loses his fitness battle.

Robinson expressed his thanks to Sale Sharks who have supplied standby Jones to the England squad at short notice.

“I feel sorry for the people at Sale. Another player has been taken from them but they have been very supportive to us,” he added.