An Evening With Lewis Moody and Geordan Murphy

With Lewis Moody and Geordan Murphy

Précis of the member evening held on Tuesday 03 February 2004, part 2 – the boys. Questions and answers are not are not reported verbatim.Sam Rossiter-Stead made the usual introductions, with one exception:Lewis was introduced as 'Lewis Moody M.B.E

LM Lewis Moody M.B.E. .... doesn't exactly role off the tongue, does it?

SRS So, Lewis, what exactly did the Queen say to you?

LM She said very little to me surprisingly! I was waiting for some comment on my hair!! She spoke to Jonny Wilkinson and to Jonno, but just walked past me and said nothing ..... thought that was a bit ****ing rude, to be honest!!!

SRS And how's the leg?

GM Pretty sore. It's coming on well. Got the go ahead for this weekend - but my kicking game isn't what it should be.

LM I'm still on the injury list for the next four to six weeks.

SRS A question from the audience: have you ever been to New Zealand?

GM I got a call from a friend who just said: 'Do you want to go to New Zealand?' -'Yeah!'

It was only after I agreed to go that I was told that I would have o give a 15 minute speech to the Rugby Board. So this speech was written after I got off the flight to NZ - we are not just talking a 15 minute speech here, this was a serious 15 minute speech.

SRS And what was your recommendation in this speech?

LM More dancing girls....

GM Well, it was all about not being allowed to pass the all back to your own 22 in order to kick it straight to touch, therefore... teams must run the ball ....LM snores.... Its all about tactics.

SRS 6 N - will you be playing this year?

GM Doubt it - Dennis Hickie is happy with the squad, so I'm just looking forward to getting back and playing to Leicester Tigers.

SRS Does Eddie O'Sullivan keep a check on your progress?

Silence

GM Probably not. Ireland is not as organised as England.

LM You OK?

GM Yeah

LM Don't rush

SRS Lewis, if you were contacted, would you play in the 6N?

LM Its very frustrating at the moment. I'm hoping to play possibly in the later games, but Leicester Tigers comes first.

SRS So what do you do for the two days a week that you are at the England training camp?

LM **** all. Its pretty boring. I just stand around telling stories.....

SRS And how is the feeling in the squad, confident?

LM Yes, 7,8,9 guys from Tigers in the squad, and possibly more later. But it is difficult coming down from the RWC back to the training camp and work on the game plan...

GM Game plan???

LM So what is Ireland's game plan, then?

GM Kick ahead ...... and if you drop the ball kick any head.

SRS Lewis, the 22 taking to the field for England in the 6N is very different to the 22 in the RWC: what are the main changes?

LM Larry as captain and getting the young guys to play. And with Jonny Wilkinson and Charlie Hodgson injured, its proving difficult to get everyone back on course.

SRS Lawrence Dalaglio - how is his style different from Martin Johnson?

LM Well, with Jonno, it just a look: the frown, the furrowed brow.... and that's when he's happy!

Dalaglio will bring something else to the team. Like Jonno, he's a natural leader, always leading from the front - Jonno never puts less than 110% into his game - if he does, he just beats somebody up.

SRS Keith Wood has retired from the international stage, he's another great motivator - how badly will Ireland miss him?

GM He's like Jonno, he can turn a game

LM Yes, and it will be easier to see on the pitch, because you won't get the reflection off his forehead!

SRS Do you think that the 6N is a two hose race between England and Ireland?

GM I think that the French would have something to say about that... and Wales?

It was good for rugby that Wales and Scotland have both stopped England winning the Grand Slam in recent years.

SRS Wales??

LM I was very impressed with their performance in Australia. they may dwindle a bit in the 6N, but it will be interesting to se if Wales can repeat their performance. I admit that I do like them - they might be a good outside bet!

SRS And what about France?

LM Don't care - don't like them. Harinordoquy? - what a t*@t!

SRS ...See yourself playing in France, then?

LM ......Hmmm, I like the coast......

SRS Scotland?

LM S**t

SRS That it?

LM Yep.

SRS Strengths?

LM No

SRS Geordan...

GM Scotland are in a tough spot. they have a reasonable back line, but nothing is expected of them. Could be a surprise package, but probably the under dogs.

SRS What is it like playing against you Tigers team mates?

GM Funny, really funny! Last year's 6N was very funny, I was at the bottom of a ruck, hands all over the ball, and Jonno got pinged for handling. As I got up I used Jonno's face for leverage. Jonno just laughed it off. Later, I was just running around the field, leaving the forwards, as usual, and Jonno said: 'Just give it up!'

LM I remember following Geordan around the park shouting abuse when he was going to kick. I was shouting: 'You're going to miss this kick, you loser'. But I think he got 5 out of 6. Great... very funny.

And when we play against London Irish, Ezi cannot take anything seriously. Its a great laugh when we play London Irish.

SRS (To Lewis) Can you follow Geordan around if he's kicking for Leicester?

GM (to the room) And if I'm kicking, don't all shout 'Miss it, you loser'

SRS Lewis, what would you be doing if you were not playing rugby?

LM Seven years, probably! Don't know... marines? Don't know.

SRS Right. Geordan, the same question for you. If not playing rugby, what would Lewis be doing?

GM Definitely seven years! Don't know.... accountant?

For myself, no idea. I fell in to rugby... IRAF, flying paper planes! I started a degree, but I haven't finished yet, so I might go back to that at De Montford.

SRS You've both worked as commentators, is this a future career?

GM No, I don't see myself doing that...

LM You need looks for TV....(to Geordan) and you've got the looks for radio!

SRS Is there a 'behind the scenes at the RWC in the pipeline?

LM Probably

SRS It must be intrusive having cameras follow you around everywhere.

LM It depends where they put their cameras!

SRS And since the RWC, have you had any commercial opportunities?

LM Durex - looking for extra large! They went to Geordan for the Tiny Tim's. I'll be on 'Big Strong Boys' - sounds a bit gay, that! On Friday 13th....

SRS Was there anyone else involved in that?

LM Julian White and Steve Thompson

I met Craig off the first series of Big Brother. We got him playing rugby, but he'd never played before, you could tell. Steve Thompson said: 'When you get the ball, run'... so he did.. straight down the street and didn't stop!

SRS When are you going to get a Neil Back haircut?

LM Like a monk?.......... it gone quiet!

SRS Will Ben Kay ever be England captain?

GM Dunno, Ask Lewis!

LM Difficult... he's probably got the attributes, but it would probably be difficult to have a mate as captain. the captain talks to the referee and is the figurehead of the team.

SRS Would you like to be captain?

LM Rather poke myself in the eye, I'm not good at speaking to refs.

SRS Yes, some of us who saw the Stade game on TV heard you say that Dominguez 'dived like a bitch'

LM He did dive like a bitch. It's a good job the mike didn't pick up what I said after!

SRS Martin Johnson has accused Lewis of playing like a lunatic .... Lewis?

LM Rugby is not a complicated game. The key to being a good player is to follow the ball around the pitch. I just love rugby. You just need to be enthusiastic, just get out there and run .....(ironic laughter from the room) ... when you get out there!

SRS So, what are you guys like as house mates?

GM I lie on the settee, watching the tele'. Then Lewis comes in and says :'Get up y'lazy b@$t@rd!'

SRS Who does the laundry?

GM Lewis

SRS Who cleans the loo?

GM Lewis

LM No one cleans the loo!

SRS Who is the fastest over 100m ... on crutches?

GM (To Lewis) You had super cool, speed crutches.

LM Yeah, we had a great time...

GM ... you had a great time!

SRS Do you have any funny car stories?

LM No.... I hit a deer when I was 18.....I used to drive a Beetle....that's it!

SRS Geordan, does your physio know that you wore 'those shoes'?

GM Just to explain, I was asked to do a turn for the ladies evening as Miss Ireland, of course. I had this silver dress and shoes with 7 inch heels. At first I thought: 'No', but bit the bullet and got on with it.

SRS Lewis, do you ever dress up as a woman?

LM Yes, similar sort of thing. Geordan looked quite good - I looked like a retard.

LM What about you then, Sam?

SRS ..... did not reply!

SRS Is Josh still playing the harmonica and surfing?

GM I could not get in touch when I was in NZ. He was on one coast, I was on the other, and we just couldn't get together.

SRS Lewis, I have a question about you, here, doing an interview ..... wearing a netball dress?

LM .....Yes...

SRS Any pictures of this?

LM ..... No.........

SRS And has this been on the tele?

LM No. OK. There was this time when there was this TV channel doing an interview with the captain of a netball team, and she was wearing this little all in one number. They said, do you want to try it on? and Jonno said 'No, but old Lewis would do it'. So I did..... looked pretty good in it, as well.

SRS How many skin tight shirts do you get through in internationals?

LM Don't know. They are very practical, when you make the half break it does give you a bit of advantage. But they do rip on certain individuals ..... like Nobby, mentioning no names.

SRS There are rumours of Brian O'Driscoll moving to Tigers, Geordan?

GM Don't need him. We've got Leone and we've generally got too much class in the backs.

LM ... and I would just like to say congratulations to Leone (sitting on the settee in the Tiger bar) on his engagement

LL .... first I've heard!!! Judas!

SRS There is a 6N fantasy rugby competition on-line, do you have any tips?

GM Not without knowing the rules. What are the criteria? Points for and against?

SRS Lewis, what do you think of the idea of joining the 6N with the Tri Nations?

LM It would make a good competition. We need to play to a good standard, with Wales and Ireland not up to scratch at the moment..

SRS Do you think that there is too much rugby being played at the moment?

GM Yes. With the 6N and, tours, the gloss is being taken off the autumn internationals.

LM I think it is better to have international games as competitive games, not friendlies.

SRS What are your hopes and fears for the rest of the season? Can Tigers qualify for the HEC?

GM Yes. We are hoping to win every game from now on. We believe that we can beat ... and destroy ... teams and we do not have many fears .... except injury ........ again.

LM There is a very positive mood in the squad. We want to win on Friday (at Sale) and get back to winning ways. The squad is very positive. It s difficult to gauge when you're not in full training. Possibly Leone would be the best person to answer.

LL First I would like to explain to my girlfriend that we are engaged..

As for training, the only difference is that there is no Deano. We still feel confident, and we still feel that the HEC is Our Cup! We just cannot wait until Friday night so we can smash Sale!

On that positive note, Sam thanked Geordan and Lewis for giving up their time this evening and Leone for making an impromptu appearance.