Tonight:
4°c
Lewis Moody's place in English rugby folklore was assured when he deflected a line-out throw to initiate the drive that ended with Jonny Wilkinson kicking the drop goal that won the 2003 World Cup Final.
Moody's contribution deep into extra-time showed agility and awareness, attributes not necessarily top of the list when friend and foe are asked to describe the Leicester flanker.
The fact that his nicknames include 'Crazy Horse', 'Mad Dog' and 'Mad Eye Moody' (courtesy of the Harry Potter character) propagate the impression that the 31-year-old is dangerous to know and play against. In 2005, he became the only England player to be sent off at Twickenham for fighting with Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi, his Leicester team-mate at the time.
Moody carries the scars of too many dangerous situations into which he threw himself; notably a small lump that sits on his right eyebrow where some of the many stitches to repair his skin were inserted.
A run of serious injuries - the most recent a broken ankle in January - has finally forced the flanker to tone down the way he attacks training in a bid to extend his playing career.
But this change of mindset has not affected his game mentality, as Australia discovered last weekend when Moody produced one of his most dynamic England performances, constantly beating the opposition to the ball and winning vital turn overs. The same will be needed against Argentina on Saturday.
Given he had missed 20 months of England rugby due to his injuries, it was a remarkable return and set him apart from the other forwards as the team's only world-class operator.
Moody, who has won 54 caps, said: "I haven't changed the way I play because of those injuries but I have tempered the way I train. It's taken me 13 years to learn that you don't have to give everything in training.
"Unfortunately, I was a product of the era at Leicester with Neil Back, Martin Johnson and Graham Rowntree when the attitude was 'train like you are going to play' and that's taken a toll on my body.
"I now realise it's more important to be fully fit on match day and, while I do the same amount of physical work in training, I don't do as much of the contact stuff that I love.
"It pains me to stay away from that but you have to be more sensible with your body. However, I would never approach a game differently.
"It was bitterly disappointing to lose to Australia and while it was great to be out there again with Thomo [Steve Thompson] and Jonny - guys who like me haven't been in the shirt for a long time - it was an awful feeling to lose.
"Argentina will be very tough and we have to build on the 60 minutes of quality we showed and the defence that kept Australia out for long periods."
England have delayed naming their team for the match with Argentina until tomorrow as Martin Johnson assesses his team's injuries but Moody is certain to play and will, doubtless, put himself in harm's way because it's the way he always plays.
"It's just fantastic to be back because you don't realise how miserable you are when you are not playing," he added.
"But, you know what, I was out for around 20 months and it never crossed my mind that the injuries would end my England career."
