Mobile Moulds aims to be Prem’s new Brits

BUSTLING hooker Matt Moulds is desperate to prove his worth to Worcester Warriors by making a free-running impact on the Premiership.

Former New Zealand 7s star Moulds, 28, arrived from Auckland Blues this summer with high hopes of a dazzling campaign at Sixways.

However, a pre-season knee injury meant surgery and a delayed debut, which came in yesterday’s Challenge Cup clash at Castres.

Converted back rower Moulds told The Rugby Paper: “I hadn’t played for six months after the Super Rugby season and then banging a bit of cartilage in a knee-on-knee clash.

“It happened on our training camp in Spain so it wasn’t the best timing, but the cartilage was floating around and needed cleaning up. I was gutted when it happened but the club has been great looking after me and I want to repay that.”

Renowned for his Schalk Brits-like ability around the park, Moulds added: “I’m a running-style hooker. I came from a looseforward background so hopefully I can add that to Worcester’s game as well as nailing down the important bits.

“Before coming here, I spoke to Michael Fatialofa and Bryce Heem – guys I knew from Auckland – and the main thing I took from them was how physical the Premiership is, and you can certainly see how massive the set-piece is here.

“If you have a good defence and your set-piece is solid, you’re generally in the mix in games.

“But beyond that I hope to add a bit more and with the quality of squad we’ve got here, making the top six is definitely our main target.”

Moulds’ decision to head north means his All Blacks hopes are dead.

However, he added: “It’s always a tough decision for guys to leave New Zealand rugby, but when you’re down there you don’t realise what the world has to offer.

“The All Blacks is such a milestone to strive for and that makes it hard to leave, but once you get out of that environment it opens your eyes.

“Test rugby hasn’t happened for me yet, but I’m here now and ready for this challenge.”