• Six Nations

Moody adds to England's Six Nations problems

ESPNscrum Staff
January 18, 2011
Lewis Moody was injured in Bath's rout of Aironi © Getty Images
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England will begin their Six Nations campaign without talismanic skipper Lewis Moody after the Bath flanker was ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury.

The 32-year-old suffered damage to the medial collateral ligament in his knee during last weekend's Heineken Cup rout of Aironi at the Rec.

England kick-off their Championship bid against Wales in Cardiff on February 4, with Leeds' South African-born flanker Hendre Fourie now in pole position to start at openside at the Millennium Stadium. Moody is also set to miss subsequent meetings with Italy and France.

His absence means that England will be without two thirds of their first-choice back-row, with Leicester's Tom Croft still some way from a return following a broken shoulder. Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is also set to miss the tournament due to a knee injury.

"Lewis took a knock to his knee at the weekend, which is slightly more serious than first thought," Bath coach Steve Meehan said. "It is frustrating for us to lose him at this stage in the season, but it does mean that other players in the squad get the opportunity to come on in his place and show us what they can do.

"We will of course make sure he receives the best medical attention to get him back on the field as and when he's ready."

Wales are also counting the cost of injury in the build-up to the England clash, with tight-head Adam Jones set to join Gethin Jenkins, Andrew Bishop and Gavin Henson on the sidelines with an elbow problem.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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