England manager Martin Johnson has confirmed that Lewis Moody will captain England at the World Cup.
The Bath flanker has been Johnson’s first-choice skipper since taking over from Steve Borthwick for the final match of the 2010 RBS 6 Nations.
Moody led England to a narrow defeat in Paris in his first match as captain before taking the reigns for the tour Down Under in which England beat Australia in the second Test.
The 32-year-old picked up an eye injury prior to the start of the Autumn Internationals but returned in time to take the armband for the games against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
However, a knee problem prevented the former Leicester star from playing any part in England’s recent RBS 6 Nations winning campaign, with Mike Tindall and Nick Easter captaining the side in his absence.
But despite his injury-ridden year and England’s 6 Nations success, Johnson insists there is no danger of Moody being stripped of the role.
"Yes, if he's fit he is England captain," Johnson told the Daily Express.
"We couldn't get rid of him, could we?
"He's been around the team, as any experienced guy would be. Obviously any player when they're not playing will feel a little bit out of it. But it's been great to have him around for the whole group.
"Once a guy is that experienced, you know when you speak to him you're going to get the truth. He'll tell you not what you want to hear; he'll tell you what he thinks.
"He'll do anything to be successful, to win. He's been desperate to get back into the group. Obviously he wants to play.
"He's an outstanding player, isn't he? The whole way he conducts himself, the way he plays, the way he trains, what he is, is fantastic."
