All Blacks loosehead prop Joe Moody has assumed the senior propping role in the world champions’ upcoming Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan.

With the non-selection of veteran tighthead prop Owen Franks, Moody, who has 41 Tests to date, became, by default the most experienced of the All Blacks props.

It marked how far he had come since he made his debut in 2014 when an injury replacement. It was the same way he became a member of the successful 2015 World Cup campaign when called in as a replacement for the injured veterans Tony Woodcock and Wyatt Crockett.

Having missed the initial Cup squad, Moody got stuck in with Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic provincial competition and was playing well enough by the time he joined the All Blacks to play in all three knockout games en route to securing the Cup in the final over Australia.

Injuries toward the end of the 2018 season and during the 2019 Super Rugby competition reduced Moody’s playing time during the season but once back in action there was little doubt he would be included in the All Blacks’ side.

His presence is crucial for a side which has Ofa Tuungafasi with 30 caps, Nepo Lauala with 20, Angus Ta’avao with eight and Atu Moli with two.

Moody was happy with how the scrummaging was going ahead of the World Cup