Talking to Simon Ward of the RFU.com podcast, England forwards coach Graham Rowntree tells us what made Lewis Moody such a great player.


Credit: Simon Ward/RFU.com

Former England captain Lewis Moody has announced his immediate retirement from all rugby.

The 33-year-old's career has been hampered by several different injuries. Moody suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the season and it was confirmed on his website that he had decided to hang up his boots.

Ireland have been struck with two huge blow with the news that scrum-half Conor Murray and Irish captain Paul O'Connell will miss the rest of Ireland's Six Nations campaign through injuries sustained in their re-arranged match with France on Sunday.

O'Connell, has suffered ligament damage and will miss the remainder of Ireland's Six Nations matches. The Irish legend remained on the field for the full eighty minutes at the Stade de France despite suffering the injury. He is expected to miss between three and four weeks.

Phillipe Saint-Andre has announced an unchanged side for France's Test against England on Saturday at the Stade de France.

After two shaking performances against Ireland and Scotland, Saint-Andre has been criticised for not freshening up his side but has resisted any temptation from the fans and the media and has chosen the same side the faced Ireland on Sunday.

History was behind France at the start of this one, Les Bleus winning 55 of the 89 encounters, Ireland just 29. The last time these sides had drawn was in 1985 in Dublin, the score was 15-15 that day.

France hadn’t recovered fully from their shabby performance against Scotland last week but came back in the second half, securing a crucial point but ruling both sides out of Grand Slam contention.

Two first half tries from Tommy Bowe, one thanks to poor French passing, the other due to a bit of luck, and a penalty goal from Jonny Sexton gave Ireland their total of 17 points. The reliable boot of scrum-half Morgan Parra and a Wesley Fofana try made up the French points tally.

Bath secured a bonus point victory over Worcester Warriors at the Rec with two tries coming from both Michael Claassens and Tom Biggs with Matt Banahan adding another. Worcester on the other hand could manage only two from Arscott and Benjamin. Simon Ward was on hand and caught up with Sam Vesty and Matt Banahan after the match.

Credit: Simon Ward/RFU.com

By James Pritchard

Hello once again and welcome back for another week of my inner thoughts on rugby in the Championship and with a Bedford side, that after a good 5 point win on the weekend against a determined Nottingham side, are gearing up for the playoffs. We’ve been given a week off this week from training to let the body’s heal after a gruelling campaign and to get us all ready for the next 4 weeks which are a step up in intensity from what we are used too.

And it doesn’t get any tougher for us than our first game away up in Rotherham. A side that has been a thorn in our sides for the last few seasons up there and I don’t see next weekend being any different. But this being our 3rd year in the playoffs, the boys know what to expect and we’ll be ready come kickoff. The other big game in our group is Pirates at home to Leeds. This will be an interesting game to watch as both teams are looking pretty sharp at the moment, but with home ground advantage, I think the Pirates may just scrape this one.

Credit: Russell Hargreaves/RFU.com