England await Moody decision

England flanker Lewis Moody faces a fitness test later today ahead of the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Ireland at Lansdowne Road.

The Leicester forward linked up with the England squad last night after spending time in hospital for treatment on a septic finger.

England head coach Andy Robinson will buy as much time as possible to give Moody every chance of making tomorrow’s encounter.

If Moody is ruled out then Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell will start and Sale forward Chris Jones will be on the bench.

“Lewis is being looked at by our medical team. He will do a fitness test later this morning and we will make a decision after that,” said Robinson.

“We are giving ourselves that little bit more time, and we will make the call when we are ready to make it.”

Moody’s experience will be vital to English ambitions of avoiding their third-successive Six Nations defeat this season, and it would be another blow for him should he fail to make it given that he also missed the defeat against Wales earlier this month because of injury.