Medical team to assess captain at Pennyhill Park
The Bath flanker damaged ligaments in the same knee in January and subsequently missed the Six Nations. He had taken to the field on Saturday with heavy strapping on his leg.
The England medical team will assess Moody when he returns to the team's base at Pennyhill Park before any decision is taken as to whether he requires a scan.
Moody's initial fear when 18-stone team-mate Matt Banahan fell on his knee at Twickenham was that he would miss the tournament which starts next month.
Those fears were eased by the time Moody had returned to the dressing room but England must still wait to find out the exact extent of the injury.
"Lewis is usually a quick healer. It could be one of those where he is back in a week or so and ready to play Ireland," Johnson said.
He added: "Lewis is a very good leader for us. You have to be able to handle the loss of any one individual."
Moody has played fewer than five full matches since January but Johnson believes the 2003 World Cup-winner has enough experience to be able to jump straight back into Test rugby.
"Lewis is a very good leader for us. You have to be able to handle the loss of any one individual," Johnson said.
"Guys who have played a lot of rugby can go in and play at Test match level a bit easier than guys who haven't. In 2003 Lawrence Dallaglio didn't play a game before we went to Australia."
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Moody is helped from the field at Twickenham |
England will assess Lewis Moody's injury on Monday amid fears he could miss the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.
Moody limped out of England's 23-19 victory over Wales on Saturday with what he hopes is just a "tweak" of his right knee.The Bath flanker damaged ligaments in the same knee in January and subsequently missed the Six Nations. He had taken to the field on Saturday with heavy strapping on his leg.
The England medical team will assess Moody when he returns to the team's base at Pennyhill Park before any decision is taken as to whether he requires a scan.
Moody's initial fear when 18-stone team-mate Matt Banahan fell on his knee at Twickenham was that he would miss the tournament which starts next month.
Those fears were eased by the time Moody had returned to the dressing room but England must still wait to find out the exact extent of the injury.
Hopeful
He is unlikely to be risked in next weekend's return match against Wales at the Millennium Stadium but England team manager Martin Johnson remained hopeful that he may be able to play against Ireland a week later."Lewis is usually a quick healer. It could be one of those where he is back in a week or so and ready to play Ireland," Johnson said.
He added: "Lewis is a very good leader for us. You have to be able to handle the loss of any one individual."
Moody has played fewer than five full matches since January but Johnson believes the 2003 World Cup-winner has enough experience to be able to jump straight back into Test rugby.
"Lewis is a very good leader for us. You have to be able to handle the loss of any one individual," Johnson said.
"Guys who have played a lot of rugby can go in and play at Test match level a bit easier than guys who haven't. In 2003 Lawrence Dallaglio didn't play a game before we went to Australia."
