Moody backs young England to shine

Lewis Moody has backed England’s young guns to conquer the Everest of world rugby and beat New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday to lift the Hillary Shield.

The All Blacks are top of the International Rugby Board’s world rankings, having won the 2010 Tri-Nations without losing a game, while England still languish in the foothills of sixth place.

But less than a year out from the World Cup, Moody is convinced England are a team on the rise following a successful injection of youth.

Moody and Mark Cueto are the only survivors from the side beaten 19-6 by the All Blacks last November, while a third of England’s starting XV have never started a Test at Twickenham.

Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs, Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Dan Cole all made their mark for England on the summer tour of Australia, where England drew the Test series 1-1.

Moody believes that fresh blood can inspire England to overturn the odds at Twickenham and take another major step forward with victory over the All Blacks.

“New Zealand are a quality side at the minute. They are ranked number one in the world. The challenge ahead of us is a very steep one and a difficult one,” said Moody.

“When you play the best team in the world, you are always underdogs but I have a lot of confidence in this team and the guys within it.

“It is a really good group of lads we have got at the minute with Youngs, Lawes, Cole, Ashton, Foden. They are playing some great rugby. The hunger and enthusiasm they have brought has been brilliant.

“The environment in the England camp has changed for the better in every way in the last 12 months. This team is going in the right direction and that has been boosted by some good performances in the last few games.

“We are in as good a place as we have been in a long while. We got that win in Australia and it is important to keep improving.

“I think the potential of this team is huge, I really do. There is no reason this team can’t go on and be together for a long period of time and perform at levels we know it can.

“There is no better place to be playing the All Blacks than at Twickenham. We know it will be an incredibly tough encounter and the challenge will be very difficult but that is why you play the game.”

Moody knows what it takes to beat New Zealand, having played a try-scoring role in England’s 31-28 triumph at Twickenham in 2002.

The Bath flanker’s view of what is required differs from the confrontational approach articulated by England’s defence coach Mike Ford earlier this week.

Ford claimed the try-laden Tri-Nations was not full-on Test rugby and that England would teach New Zealand a lesson in intensity at Twickenham.

“We want to make this a good, old-fashioned Test rugby game,” said Ford.

“When our players keep hearing about how exciting (New Zealand’s rugby) is, deep down they will be putting the shutters up.”

But Moody insists England will have to strike the right balance if they are to register a first victory over the All Blacks since 2003.

“The team is picked for a reason, because of the qualities the players bring, and sometimes on an international stage you constrain yourself. It is about making sure we don’t do that, that we perform,” said Moody.

“As a team you focus on your defence – if you stop the opposition scoring you know you will be in with a good chance of winning the game – but you also score points and try not to be constrained when you go out there.”

Moody has captained England for their last three games but they were in Paris, Perth and Sydney. Leading out his country to face the All Blacks at Twickenham will be a special moment.

“Yes, without a doubt,” said Moody.

“It is never something that has driven me as a player. What drives me is to be part of a quality team that wants to take the field to win. That is still the same for me.

“To have that privilege is wonderful but I won’t be thinking about that before the game.”