Moody wants England captaincy
Bath rugby star and England international Lewis Moody says he wants to lead the national team on a full-time basis if Martin Johnson will allow him.
Moody made the switch from Leicester to Bath this summer where he has signed a three-year contract. Bath subsequently made him captain for the coming season and he now seems to want the same role in the England side.
However, Martin Johnson is not a coach who rushes big decisions and he may not appoint another captain for a while. With Steve Borthwick being dropped there is now an opportunity for someone to prove they have what it takes.
Moody has all of the right characteristics that a captain needs to lead a side and play well. However, this role is a step up from anything he's ever likely to have encountered before and he still has zero experience of the role at Bath.
The right characteristics
Moody is a player for the big occasion and he always steps up during big games. This is something that all captains need to do because it has the power to inspire and lift the rest of the side and get them playing better against bigger teams.
He is a very vocal player on the pitch and commands areas of the field very well. This is important because it allows the captain to organise the team quickly and efficiently on the pitch if the pre-match plan has not gone as expected.
Moody has a very thorough level of club experience at Leicester and the point he's just been given the captaincy at Bath should work in his favour. It shows that he has club rugby worked out and is ready to make the jump in leadership up to the next level.
He said: "Johnno [Martin Johnson] never gives much away but we won the second Test in Sydney to square the series, only the third time England have won down there in half a century of trying. Now, we all start afresh. After 14 great years with Leicester, it's a whole new challenge as I begin my career with Bath."
A step up
The England captaincy will be a step up from anything that Moody is likely to experience at club level. It will place additional strain on him during his career and the effects of this could be seen on the playing field.
He already has the responsibility of constantly representing Bath both on and off the pitch and he will have to do the same for England if he's given the job. This will mean that he will have hardly any personal time and this in turn can create extra pressure and strain.
He added: "I have to earn their respect, then earn a place in Johnno's team. If Johnno still wants me to be captain - and feels I'm up to the job - I would love to do it again."
Betting Advice
Moody makes any team a harder unit to play against. He is disciplined and thorough and this is likely to ooze out of any side that he leads, regardless of the level they play at.
As captain he will give a side a better chance of winning and therefore you shouldn't be afraid to have a punt on any team that he leads. Bath are looking a very good option for the Premiership title and Moody is only going to add to their chances.
England are a little more unpredictable due to their inconsistency but Moody can do well in the captaincy role. It may even spur him on to score a few more tries and points.
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