Moody takes aim at Back
San Fransisco
June 18, 2001

The message winging its way across the Pacific from Lewis Moody to Leicester team-mate Neil Back was loud and clear: ``I want your job''.

Moody completed an outstanding North American tour with another brilliant performance in the 48-19 victory over the USA at Balboa Park yesterday.

Coaches and players were united in their belief that Moody was a clear `man-of-the-tour' winner, exceeding his own pre-trip expectations.

It also allowed him to momentarily emerge from the cloud which has been cast over his career by the Tigers' recent signing of legendary All Black Josh Kronfeld.

Though he has been urged to stay by Welford Road coach John Wells and England hooker Dorian West, Moody is seriously debating whether to quit the triple Premiership winners.

The 23-year-old flanker feels his already sporadic appearances in the Leicester side will be squeezed still further as he finds himself behind both Back and Kronfeld in the line to wear his favoured number seven shirt.

And with prominent figures within the England coaching team suggesting that he will have to play more regularly, not less, if he is to retain his place in Clive Woodward's plans, Moody has some big decisions to take when he returns to Leicester in seven days' time.

``Hopefully Neil Back was watching with the Lions and my performances have made people sit up and take notice,'' said the former schools javelin champion.

``I was really hungry coming into the tour because I was not sure whether I would even get on it. When you are behind Neil Back it is quite hard to get recognised.

``Then I wasn't expecting to get in the Test team because I didn't get selected for the Barbarians game before we left. But I got my opportunity against Canada and made sure I didn't look back.

``Clive has an open view on the way the game is played, which is different to Leicester. Sometimes you can feel restricted.

``I have become slightly withdrawn over the last year, just going through the motions. I have been getting around 20 games a season but if you want to get selected for national teams you have to be earning your place every week.''

Moody's previous England experience was a fairly tortuous affair as a raw teenager on the 1998 `Tour to Hell'.

His only start came in a 66-0 mauling by the New Zealand Maoris, with Pat Sanderson taking the Test spots.

Three years later and the roles have been reversed, with Sanderson sat on the bench as Moody became a star.

He has taken on board the mantra of defence coach Ellery Hanley who told all the Test players not to let their hard-earned England shirt go without a fight.

And he is more determined than ever that any international future would be as Back's successor in the number seven shirt, even if the Leicester hierarchy are trying to persuade him otherwise.

``I wouldn't want to leave Leicester,'' said Moody, who has two years remaining on his Tigers contract. ``It is my home and I have only known that club.

``But if I am going to be stuck behind Neil Back and Josh Kronfeld it will be really hard if I stay. If I want to get anywhere with England, it has to be at seven.

``There are so many good players in the other back-row positions, it almost impossible to break that mould. I have a few options available and I want to sort this out. The whole tour has really brought out the best in me, so I hope a few people are impressed.''

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