WORLD Cup winner Lewis Moody believes Geoff Parling’s lack of physicality is what came back to bite him as the Exeter Chiefs lock looks set to miss out on the Six Nations entirely.

When new head coach Eddie Jones named his extended Six Nations squad, former Durham School pupil Parling was one of nine players to feature in the World Cup to fail to make the cut this time around.

At 32 it could simply be that Jones is looking to the future with the oldest lock left in his squad 26-year-old Courtney Lawes.

But Moody – who won the World Cup with England in 2003 – admits that however much of a line-out guru Stockton-born Parling is, he was simply not the right fit for Jones’ new-look aggressive England.

“I sadly think Geoff’s time has come and gone,” said Land Rover ambassador Moody, speaking ahead of the annual HITZ awards which take place on February 4th. Land Rover is a partner of HITZ, a programme that uses sport for change, helping youngsters overcome some of lives biggest employment, education and social challenges.

“You have got to remember that it was only five years ago that Geoff was a Newcastle player. He was relatively unheard of and Leicester picked him up and he had a very quick rise to the international stage slightly later on in his career.

“I think, for the type of player Eddie Jones is looking for, Geoff was much more of an athletic line out caller and what England are looking for now is real physical presence on the pitch.

“With Geoff that was certainly not his strongest area and you can understand why he has missed out.

“I think a number of players are victims of change and coaches will have their preferences.

“And I think a number of those guys were questionable within Lancaster’s regime in terms of who was going to play and the new coach has been able to come in and say ‘this is who we want’ and ‘these are the changes we want’ and now they can put their stamp on it and cut away from the Lancaster regime.

“And the appointment of Dylan Hartley as captain is the biggest statement to date that we are away from the previous regime that this is us and we are making our mark.

“The statement there is he wanted an abrasive, aggressive, confrontational England side.”

But regardless of what decisions could have been made differently, Moody insists a Parling-less England should be full of confidence as they go in search of a first Six Nations title since 2011.

“I certainly think England and the new regime have the opportunity to win the Six Nations,” he added.

“I think if you can get past this first game in Scotland, which is no easy cake walk as Scotland is a very hard place to go and win, then that will set them up nicely going forward.

“I think they should be confident because the talent in the squad is definitely there but the only question is does Eddie Jones and his coaching staff have enough time?

“They only have two weeks essentially and the training regime has been spoken about and the boys will only get one day off before that match. They will be made to work very hard, but hopefully it will be all worth it.”

Lewis Moody is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover is a partner of HITZ, the sport for change programme, and will be supporting the annual HITZ Awards on February 4th. @LandRover_UK #WeDealInReal