Moody refusing to shirk his duties even in wake of injury which threatens his eyesight

The England captain has been sidelined since October 1 after damaging the retina in his left eye in a collision with Gloucester full-back Charlie Sharples.

Moody was blind in the eye for 24 nervous hours and the blow has left a scar that could cause a permanent blurring of his sight.

But the flanker, nicknamed Mad Dog, insisted on being released to play for Bath against Harlequins on Sunday – just six days before England tackle

New Zealand.

"The eye will probably never be perfect anymore," said Moody. "I bruised the retina and part of the macula and that has left a slight scar just across the back which means part of your vision is distorted.

"It could get better and hopefully over time it will do. Your brain learns to ignore it apparently. It might take my brain slightly longer than most.

"I lost all sight in that eye from the moment it happened for 24 hours but from the way you are programmed to deal with injuries you are always confident it will improve.

"I have had all the specialists and they have all looked after me very well. The improvement was rapid and now it is at a level when I have to get on with it.

"I have trained the last two weeks and there have been no issues and thankfully I can get a game in this weekend."

England manager Martin Johnson has retained the bulk of his squad for the All Blacks game in camp this week but after three weeks out Moody refused to be wrapped in cotton wool.

"I am hugely relieved to be back. I just want to get back playing, as any sportsman does," said Moody. "It is not ideal to be playing six days before the All Blacks game but it makes no difference to me. I really wanted to play.

"If I was going to be picked for the All Blacks game I didn't want to go in having not played a game.

"I said that to Johnno and the coaches and they were keen for me to get some time as well."

Moody suffered the injury attempting to charge down a kick, which is part of the game he relishes.

He recently became a father for the second time, but Moody vowed never to change the way he plays.

"I genuinely hope they don't relieve me of duties like the kick-chase. It is part of the game I enjoy. This was a freak accident," said Moody. "My wife has always supported me and she will continue to do the same. She just says 'make sure you are right when you come back' and the only advice you can take is from the specialists. They said go for it."

England head into the Investec series on the back of a victory over Australia in Sydney – only their third win against the Wallabies Down Under.

The All Blacks head to Europe as Tri-Nations champions and the world's No 1 ranked team. England then face Australia, Samoa and South Africa on successive Saturdays.

"Every time you play the southern hemisphere teams it's a tough challenge but it's important to test yourself against the best and New Zealand are the best at the moment," said Moody.