Moody turns up heat on Back

David Edwards|Daily Mail|In San Francisco

13 April 2012

Neil Back has enough to worry about at the moment, not least the prospect of taming Australia flanker George Smith in the Lions series.

What he does not need are the rave reviews and statements of intent emanating from England's tour of North America, the latest of which has turned up the heat considerably in the great Leicester back-row debate.

Back's understudy Lewis Moody enhanced his growing reputation with another mighty performance as England wrapped up their tour with an emphatic win. Not only did it complete a clean sweep of the three Test matches in Canada and America, it also meant that, for the first time, England have won 11 consecutive internationals.

Yet not even that achievement could deflect the focus from Moody. England manager Clive Woodward called him magnificent and hailed the Leicester open-side - who capped a marvellous display by driving over for England's eighth try in the final minute - as 'the find of the tour'.

Moody's problem is that while an England future beckons in the No.7 shirt, he not only has Back ahead of him in that particular queue but Leicester have now signed one of the greatest open-sides of all-time in New Zealand's Josh Kronfeld.

Moody said: 'Hopefully Backy was watching with the Lions and hopefully I've made a few people stand up and take notice.'

Chief among those, he hopes, are Leicester manager Dean Richards and coach John Wells. 'When I get back there's going to be a lot of talking,' added Moody.

'I wouldn't want to leave Leicester. I've been brought up there since the age of 10 but, in the long run, if I'm going to be stuck behind Josh and Backy then there's not much hope for me.' Wells begs to differ. The England forwards' coach said: 'There's nothing to resolve as far as I'm concerned,' said Wells. 'If Lewis continues to play as he has on this tour it's the other guys who need to look out.'

Steve Borthwick and Simon Shaw were outstanding in the first half against the Americans, winning quick ball off the top of the line-out and, at one point, exchanging reverse passes as England's forwards indulged in basketball-style handling.

The tourists stuttered after the break as the Americans brought the 6,000 crowd to their feet with two more tries.

They were finally silenced by Josh Lewsey's second try, a score which paired the Wasps full back with Newcastle centre Jamie Noon as the most improved backs in the party.

There was a first cap for Bath fly half Olly Barkley who, at 19, has the England management purring. Fellow substitutes Tom Voyce and Tom Palmer also won first caps and their emergence should be the legacy of this tour.

USA: K Shuman; J Naqica, P Eloff, J Grobler, J Naivalu; G Wells, K Dalzell; M MacDonald, K Khasigian, P Still, L Gross, E Reed (A Magleby 68min), D Hodges (capt), K Schubert (O Fifita 40), D Lyle.

ENGLAND: J Lewsey; L Lloyd, F Waters, J Noon, M Stephenson; D Walder, K Bracken (capt); G Rowntree, D West, J White, S Shaw, S Borthwick, S White-Cooper, L Moody, J Worsley. Replacements (all used): P Sanderson, D Flatman, O Barkley, A Long, T Palmer, T Voyce, Noon, M Wood.

Referee: A Turner (South Africa).

MORE ABOUT

Basketball

Moody turns up heat on Back

Read More