England's 2011 World Cup captain Lewis Moody will miss Test rugby but still has plenty on his mind after such a limp finale. The Guardian's Rob Kitson reports.
"So what did happen when England stumbled into the "Mad Midget Weekender", which spawned a million headlines? Moody has already expressed regret that others did not call it a night as relatively early as he did. "If I had stayed out I'd have been able to put an arm round them and take them back. That would be my biggest regret. But when I left the bar there were only a couple of guys in there. The other fellas weren't out. As much as I'd like to know everyone's movements, it's not possible."
"Nor, unlike some, does Moody seek to blame the media as agents provocateurs. "Absolutely it's the players' fault. The media have a job to do … as players you have to hold your hands up and take responsibility for your actions, simple as that. We spoke about that at length and we spoke about the media, about being in New Zealand and the rugby cauldron that it is. I think that's what is even more disappointing: that we allowed it to happen. It did taint the rugby. Whether we'd have gone beyond the quarter-final or not, it certainly tainted the experience." Meeting the French players in the lift as he checked out of his hotel the morning after England's quarter-final defeat scarcely helped."
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