It comes after knee injuries to All Blacks props Tyrel Lomax and Fletcher Newell during their team’s 73-0 victory over Uruguay in Lyon this morning.
Moody was named to play for Canterbury, who held off Auckland 29-24 to qualify for next weekend’s semifinals, but instead was pictured by the television broadcast on the sideline in his trousers and blazer and wearing a broad smile.
The 35-year-old, who has played 57 Tests, missed out on the All Blacks World Cup squad after a run of injuries during the Super Rugby season.
In late August he spoke of his disappointment at not making the squad, saying he made a case to All Blacks coach Ian Foster, but he may end up travelling anyway, even if he’s not a straight replacement for Lomax, who has strained a medial ligament, or Newell, who has a lesser injury.
It’s likely that Foster is keeping his options open should Lomax not recover in time for next Sunday’s quarter-final and that Moody could travel to France as cover.
While Lomax and Newell are tighthead specialists and Moody is a loosehead, both Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Tamaiti Williams can play either side of the scrum and the All Blacks could require cover should they or Nepo Laulala, the sole remaining specialist tighthead, pick up injuries this week or on Sunday.
Due to tournament rules, no replacement can join the squad in an official capacity until a player is ruled out and cannot continue. The replacement can train and stay away from the squad, however, on the assumption he may be required – an arrangement necessary when travelling from 24 hours away in New Zealand.
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