Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw is hoping for a call-up into the full England squad.
Moody's injury may open the door for flanker
Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw is hoping for a call-up into the full England squad.
Skipper and flanker Lewis Moody has been ruled out of the first three matches of the RBS Six Nations with a knee injury and England head coach Martin Johnson is expected to name a replacement for the Bath flanker on Monday. Robshaw, along with Andy Saull, Tom Wood and Phil Dowson, is a potential candidate.
Robshaw, who is currently in the England Saxons squad, has been likened by Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea to World Cup-winning back-rower Richard Hill.
Robshaw said: "I'll have to wait and see if I'm picked as Lewis' replacement. It's a long time since I made my debut but I'm hoping that I will be able to squeeze myself in.
"If I did get in it would be a good opportunity. It will be a good test of the squad to prove that they are good enough to do well in New Zealand."
Robshaw's only full cap came against Argentina in 2008 although he did captain England in their unofficial game against the New Zealand Maori last year.
He never lost faith in his ability though and admits being compared to Hill has been a big boost to his confidence.
Consistency
"It's one of those things I fell out of form a bit," Robshaw said of not adding to his one England cap. "I missed an opportunity here and there, but it's all about consistency.
"You have to keep improving yourself with Quins and as long as I do that then fingers crossed I'll be able to move on to bigger and better things.
"It's always pretty flattering when I get compared to Richard Hill," he added.
"It's a very nice compliment. He's a player who has got all the plaudits, the caps and the trophies.
"He is one of those amazing players out of the last generation like Lawrence Dallaglio. They were a special breed and to be associated with someone from that group is great for me.
"I still have a long way to go even before I get halfway to what he achieved though."
Should Robshaw be selected for the Six Nations, he is keen to make an impression to force his way into Johnson's thoughts ahead of this autumn's World Cup.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to go to the World Cup," he added. "Every player wants to play in the World Cup. Every Englishman wants to go to the World Cup to represent England and I'm no exception."