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Hi Tom, and first of all how's the shoulder?

It's good, thanks. It's been well documented what I've gone through after two operations - the first one unfortunately didn't heal - but I got back at the end of last season and hopefully it's standing up well now.

You started learning the guitar while you were out. How's that coming on?

I'd say well, but I'm still terrible even after about 18 months now. But I'm absolutely hooked, I can't put the bloody thing down, much to my girlfriend's annoyance. She's still waiting for when I can play a few tunes on it!

At least your form on the rugby pitch has been good?

To be honest that's hard to judge when as a team you are not putting in performances that are as good as you hope for. We were glad to edge one at Sale last week so there's no hitting a panic button yet. I just need to go away and look at the little things I can do to help out.

The most encouraging thing must be that your shoulder is standing up to all the hits.

My position, as openside flanker, and the way I play generally, is pretty physical. I certainly don't mind running around in the loose with the ball, but my game is based around the contact in the tackle area and trying to make a nuisance of myself, so it has pleased me to feel confident with the more physical stuff.

Everybody in rugby is so much bigger, stronger and harder. Is collecting injuries just an occupational hazard? Martin Johnson never seems to be able to pick a settled England side.

It's difficult to say. You get your runs of luck where nothing happens and then you get times where unfortunately it seems everything comes at once. But I think the way the game is played is as much a factor, which is sometimes overlooked. The way people are hit in collisions, how they are hitting rucks, the way defences are, all that has a knock-on effect for the number of collisions, never mind the size of the guys involved. At least the clubs are realising it and doing the best to look after their players. I'm particularly lucky at Wasps that they do the best to manage the players throughout the year. They still aim to be winning every weekend, but not at the player's expense.

That must get harder as the Aviva Premiership becomes more even. Who'd have thought Exeter would come in and win games immediately, for instance?

That's brilliant from their point of view. I've been down there, they are really keen on their rugby, and it is absolutely fantastic what they are doing. They've just showed other teams you can't take them lightly, don't think "we can send the guys who have not had much game time and give them a bit of a run out". But you're right, all that does make it that much more difficult in terms of trying to get through the year injury free, because you do have to front up and be right on that limit physically every week.

You've not had the best start so is the Heineken Cup a good thing for you now?

I think so, it's a change of focus, in the way you prepare, there aren't too many better mindsets than the Heineken Cup, especially for us going down to France where you have to handle the passion of their crowd. But if you can get off to a good start, you can take it back into your domestic competitions. Certainly we are not panicking in terms of how it has gone so far but we need to start making up wins and this is a good way to go about it

How do you rate the strength of the Premiership compared to the other European Leagues? Last year wasn't the best in the Heineken Cup.

That's an interesting one, it is difficult to know the ins and outs of the French League. They have a far longer season and play more games than we do. I also think the Irish and Welsh can manage players more. On the other hand I know Shaun Edwards is a great believer that when you get to that tail end you want players who have been there and who are battle hardened, week in and week out. Physically you might need to wrap yourself in cotton wool for games, but if you get guys who get on that roll domestically and carry performances into the European competition I think that can help.

What's your view in the salary cap debate?

I'm a fan of anything that keeps the game working. If the salary cap is what the game needs to stay afloat and continue to grow steadily, then that has to be the best thing

But you've lost some of your best players, not always for money but it's a factor?

It has been, there's no getting away from it, but that's happened with us before that we have lost big name players. The important thing for the club is whoever is there, and wants to be there. They might not be guys who are the highest profile players, but the guys at Wasps I know I am more than happy stepping out onto the pitch with every week, regardless of how much they are being paid compared to the guy wearing the shirt opposite.

We hope so and wish you luck. We've a free £50 bet in aid of a charity of your choice to say thanks for your time.

I'll follow a lot of other rugby guys who I know have supported the Matt Hampson Trust - and I'll back the soccer boys at the Wycombe stadium to win League Two at 10.5. They've definitely got the talent to do.

By Ralph Ellis

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