Dubai: February’s Six Nations is now imperative to England’s 2015 Rugby World Cup preparations following a disappointing Autumn International series, that’s according to England legend Lewis Moody.

The Red Roses lost to New Zealand 24-21 and South Africa 31-28 before beating Samoa 28-9 and Australia 26-17 last month, throwing doubt over their contention as hosts of next September’s World Cup.

Now, 2003 World Cup winner Moody, 36, who is at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens as a HSBC ambassador, says England must bounce back in the forthcoming Six Nations.

“The Six Nations for me is now crucial,” said the former Leicester Tigers flanker who scored 45 points in 71 appearances for England between 2001 and 2011. “If England don’t perform there I’m not saying they won’t perform in the World Cup, but it will certainly stifle their momentum.”

On England’s chances in the Six Nations he added: “Having seen the Autumn Internationals, and seeing that Ireland, Scotland and Wales have all suddenly upped their game, it’s gone from being something we had a confident chance of winning to being one that is now completely open. Out of those four I’d say England are now in the weakest position.”

Moody did however offer some positives from their Autumn International campaign, despite England recording their fourth consecutive defeat to the All Blacks and fifth consecutive defeat to the Springboks.

“You can’t look past the fact we were missing 11 members of our starting squad, that’s a third of the 30-man squad. When you get these guys back all of a sudden you have strength in depth you didn’t have before, so I’m confident England can make an impression at the World Cup. A year is a long time in rugby. But it depends on how we get them back and how we improve.

“All of a sudden a year before the World Cup we have been hit with a lull. For me that sets the squad back a bit but it could also put them in a stronger position come the Six Nations if we get all those guys back fit.

“There are some real positives to get from England but the test now is whether they can take something tangible from the Six Nations. We need to win it to show we can do it because until then they will never believe it.

“It’s most important to make Twickenham a fortress, it’s all very well saying that but you have to believe it, it’s only when you start to believe that you can win the biggest matches in the world as we did with that wonderful World Cup win in 2003.”