By Paddy von Behr

WORLD Cup winner Lewis Moody has expressed his dismay in new head coach Eddie Jones omitting Gloucester's Matt Kvesic from his squad for England’s Six Nations opener with Scotland.

Despite Kvesic being included in Jones’ extended squad last week – albeit as injury cover – the flanker is set to miss out on the clash with the Auld Enemy on February 6 after being one of ten players released back to their clubs this weekend.

For many that has come as a surprise with Kvesic the in-form No.7 so far this season, having made the most turnovers this Premiership campaign as well as sitting fourth in the tackle count.

In the past Jones has been known to favour traditional opensides and was openly critical of Chris Robshaw during England's disastrous World Cup.

And former flanker Moody, who won the World Cup with England in 2003, can’t believe that Kvesic hasn’t been given the chance to add to the two international caps he collected three years ago.

“I am absolutely gutted about Matt missing out because he has been playing so well for Gloucester,” said Land Rover ambassador Moody, who was 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.

“With the change in regime you would have thought he would be given a shout because the frustrating thing about his involvement with England in the previous regime was that he was never given a chance to play – he was in the squad and never used.

“I think it’s incredibly harsh on him but I hopefully he will keep his head up and his time will come again.

“It’s strange because Eddie Jones has always said that you should pick an out-and-out seven and really in that squad now you don’t have an out-and-out seven. It does surprise me where Eddie has gone with that.

“Eddie Jones is maybe falling into that bracket now like all coaches are doing where finding an out-and-out seven is very difficult, you end up with a seven and a half which is what Chris Robshaw was.

“England, historically over the years, have never had an out-and-out seven barring Neil Back, really he was the only one.

“If England really have a desire to field an out-and-out seven there has to be much more time and emphasis spent in creating them, and that’s from a young level from when they are in the academy to the very top level.”

Ahead of his first game in charge all eyes will be on new head coach Jones as he looks to build England up again after they became the first World Cup host nation to exit the tournament at the pool stages.

And Robshaw believes Jones’ desire to stamp his own mark on the Red Rose has meant disappointment for Kvesic.

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

“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 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.”

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