It was definitely a case of the Leicester lip (perhaps borrowed from Oz) versus the Irish wit, as Lewis and Geordan jostled for the microphone. It may not have been a one-to-one session, as per TT’s previous interviews, but a select band of the chosen ones were gathered. Here’s just a snippet of what was on offer from the lads, who are raring to go, as the start to a hectic season is only days away.

Q With players leaving the club and others being signed throughout the summer, has this affected the team moral?
LM It was a shame to lose Cocker. However, the atmosphere is wicked, as there are enthusiastic little keen buggers in the camp, who are ready for action. Scrummaging at Leicester may have been tough but Cockers is getting his head beaten in by the French lads!
GM Scrummaging is unbelievable in France, as the French like to take off your head, which Cockers is finding out about. Personally, the morale in the team is very good.

Q Will you miss Richard Cockerill?
GM Yes of course we will miss him, as he loved Leicester and was a good guy. I still keep in touch with him. However, there are new hookers within the club and they will bed themselves in and take over.

Q What are your personal ambitions?
GM At first, it was to establish myself in the first team and then to get capped by Ireland, and then become a regular in both teams, as well as playing for the British Isles. More so, I aim to be the best player in my chosen position. The chosen position may even be at No.10 as if Booth gets in there, then I am definitely having a go (previously played at full-back and fly-half.) And seeing Lewis in his grave!

Q Having seen the Tri-Nations conclude, which country do you think has improved the most and will be ready to fight for the World Cup?
LM It would be nice to see South Africa win (cheers from the room), but New Zealand will be a force to be reckoned with and Australia will be contesting it as reigning champions. But you can’t really tell until the World Cup actually starts. England will be fighting (to GM making faces!)

Q The Pit Bull (Brain Moore) is a trained manicurist, have you got any special talents?
GM I don’t have any skills like that (to laughter and a bemused look from LM)

Q Being a sporting celebrity, has they affected or aided your private life?
(much laughter about being a sporting celeb from LM and GM, to which GM says “It’s more like you Lewis that’s the celeb”!)
LM Someone may have some footage of me on a Wednesday and Saturday night…(oh er misses). You have to know when its right to go out but its does help being a celeb.

Q What was the best game last season?
GM It is difficult because you are so mentally focused and involved that you can’t remember.
LM The greatest game was the semi-final (Vs Llanelli, Nottingham, European Cup). Just before we were awarded a penalty and Stimmo chose to kick, I gave away a penalty. I wasn’t too worried about Stimmo kicking…
GM But I was ******** myself but the rest is history!

Q There’s some talk about Neil Back, a scrum and a hand in the 2002 European Cup Final (Cardiff) – can you enlighten the audience?
LM If you watch the video, the scrum before Backy’s scrum, I tried to do the same thing. Interfering with their scrum-half, I think it is called. You do whatever it takes to get a team victory.

Q With 4 League Championships won and 2 European Cups, which has meant the most to you?
GM The 1st European Cup (2001 vs Stade Francais, Paris) as it was very special and the first time in Leicester’s history. The team knew there would be a lot of French supporters, as it was in their back yard, but didn’t know how many Leicester fans and it was awesome to hear so many Tigers fans giving it their best. The crowd fed into the boys.
LM I would have to agree. Even being on the bench, it proved it be an exciting and emotional day.

Q What have been the high and low points of your respective tours that weren’t on the pitch?
LM The high point was getting injured but still being asked to go to Argentina, so did a lot of training and got to play a test.
GM The low point was losing my phone after doing handstands on the sofa before I flew home the next day. The high point was landing at Heathrow!

Q Both of you have been on summer tours, what was it like playing?
LM Despite the spitting and the aggressive and passionate chanting, it was fantastic to play for England, especially as the media wrote us off. But **** knows what the Argentinean fans were chanting!
GM It was nice to nearly score 2 tries (to laughter of LM underlining the fact of nearly scoring!)

Q What was the final score in the try competition between both of you last season?
LM This is a very personal issue…
GM Lewis said to me “I am going to score more tries than you this year”, so I replied “Get a life” and then he went and scored 5 tries in the first 5 games and I thought I was done for! However, Booth beat both of us, and I will have to challenge him next season!

Q Who is your sporting hero?
LM Anna Kounakova (ha ha). In rugby terms, Josh Kronfeld and Neil Back. Kronfeld was an awesome player that I looked up to when I was younger. I look up to Backy for everything that he has achieved, especially over coming being labelled as too short. Both Josh and Neil have taught me a lot (we can say that he has been tutored well by two mentors). When Kronfeld was signed I did consider leaving the club or going on loan but Deano convinced me to stay, and I am very glad that I have stayed. Leicester has been my home for 14 years and it would have been very sad (to GM pretending to cry and saying the beers are on me if Lewis leaves)
GM In sport, I like Tiger Woods, as he has got a good head on his shoulders and plays exceptionally well, and doesn’t do much partying! I looked up to John Kirwan and David Campese, as they were both winners and good players (to aside of “How could I look up to an Englishman?”)

Q As you both share a house, what is your worse cooking disaster?
LM GM never cooks! But I can do a nice Fish pie…
GM Yes it’s a potato and vegetable pie and you get some fish if you are lucky! Neither of us are great cooks but anyone is welcome if they would like to try it!

Q Is Lewis a tidy housemate and who does the cleaning?
LM The cleaners do the cleaning! Geordan is a good housemate but he can’t cook, clean or drive but he sometimes does my washing and ironing!
GM Lewis is very tidy and gets annoyed at me for being messy!

Q Who has been you worst or best roommate?
LM I shared with Glederblum. He was scared of spiders, as there was one over my bed. (GM interrupts and says that both of them were screaming like girls). Glen even had to prod the spider with a chair. When I went to New Zealand in 1998, it was brilliant sharing with Tony Diprose…

Q Can you give us an up-date on your injuries?
LM I am fit to play next week.
GM Its been slow to recover but I hope to be back by November, as the doctors said between 2-4 months.

Q Is there any truth to the rumour that Paddy is coming back to Tigers? (Since he was seen at Heathrow with Dean Richards)
GM I don’t know. As a player and coach, we have looked up to Paddy. Dave’s contract is up at the end of the season and he has been a very good coach.

Q When you will be having you next operation and will it be successful – to remove your mobile phone?
LM Don’t know!
GM He has too much wheeling and dealing to do! (Audience asks if they can have it). No, its crap!

Q As Josh can play the Harmonica and Stimmo can sing, have you got any musical talents?
GM I have no musical talents, but I would like to think I can sing! Josh tried to teach me to play the guitar but I could only manage 1 chord!
LM I am thinking about making a boy band…!

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