JAMES Haskell may have been successfully leading Wasps from the front this season but World Cup winner Lewis Moody insists the back-rower is not England captaincy material.

Chris Robshaw has skippered England since January 2012 but, having relinquished the Harlequins captaincy to Joe Marler and with some criticising his early season form, there are questions about his suitability for the role.

Haskell’s name is one that has been mooted as a potential replacement but Moody is convinced the 29-year-old doesn’t fit the profile for the position.

Moody, who was part of England 2003 World Cup winning squad, captained England 11 times himself and has backed Robshaw as the right man to continue to lead his country.

And having held the position, Moody is adamant that appointing Haskell as skipper of the national side would upset the carefully-cultivated dynamic that head coach Stuart Lancaster has created.

“I think Robshaw is still the man to lead England despite the criticism he has been receiving – he has done a great job so far,” said Moody, who is a LV= Cup ambassador.

“I can’t see James Haskell ever captaining England – he’s playing very well but I don’t think he’s the right sort of person that fits into Stuart’s culture.

“He certainly doesn’t fit what you need in an England captain. James is playing so well at the minute and he’s an abrasive ball carrier but he’s a big ego.

“I think people like Chris Robshaw and Tom Wood are much more straight down the line and they perform.

“They’re very simple in the way they approach the game whereas James is a bit more like Lawrence Dallaglio in the way he leads. I don’t necessarily think that is the right sort of appointment at this time.”

The back row is a position of real depth for England at the moment with a slew of talented players gunning for the incumbent trio of Robshaw, Tom Wood and Billy Vunipola.

This means Haskell is vying with the likes of Calum Clark, Ben Morgan and Tom Croft for more playing time while youngsters such as Luke Wallace and Will Fraser also try to force themselves into Lancaster’s plans.

And Moody believes that Haskell, who is back on his feet after being treated for suspected meningitis, should focus on working his way up the back row pecking order rather before worrying about skippering the side.

“I definitely would have him in the England squad because he’s playing some great rugby but I don’t think you will suddenly see him as England captain,” he added.

“I don’t think he would get in the England team ahead of Morgan, Vunipola or Wood anyway. I think Morgan and Vunipola have made that No. 8 position their own so he’s then fighting for the No. 6 slot and there’s a lot of competition.

“Tom Croft still isn’t quite back to fitness but he’s a good player, and then obviously Tom Wood is holding down that position at the minute.”

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