A few weeks ago RFTG Susie for on the phone to Ben Woods. Here's what she discovered.

1) So firstly, you broke your wrist back in November, how's the recovery coming along? Are you back on track to return by the end of this month?

 I'm seeing specialists tomorrow so I'm not quite sure what's happening at the moment. There's no definite time frame as to when I'll be back just yet. It's pretty frustrating to be honest, it's really disappointing because you want to be out there helping the other guys but you can't. The great thing is that they're doing really well at the moment, but yeah it's just frustrating I can't do more really.

2) Newby's currently playing at 7 and scored a try on the weekend, what have you been doing to make sure you get the shirt back as soon as possible?

 Newby's doing really well, he's a fantastic player...he's versatile, he carries well, he's just a great back row player. I know I've got a real job on my hands so I'm going to train as hard as I can and concentrate on me as an individual. I'm just going to put my boots on and as quickly as possible, get back to training properly.

3) With the match against Northampton, they'd lost at home the week before, did you feel confident you were going to beat them?

 I haven't really been around the squad that much to be honest. When you're injured you spend most of your time with your fitness coach, but the vibe from the team seems to be really positive. Every week we're putting a great team out and last week's really went pretty unnoticed, that didn't really come into it. The focus was on playing at home for our fans and knowing that we had a lot riding on it. Irrespective of who we play, we always want to put our best team out.

4) You're at the top spot on the table now, what are the team doing to make sure you stay there?

 Northampton have obviously got a couple of games in hand so we're just really trying to focus on every game as it comes. They come thick and fast to we're training hard all the time.

5) What are your own personal immediate and future goals?

 It's hard to look too much into the future when you've been injured because you're really aware of getting back fit fist and foremost. Obviously I'm trying to get back, put the pressure on Newby, but that's easier said than done. I know I've really got to fight and I'm aware that it'll be difficult but when you've been injured, especially when you play for a team like Leicester, you've got to be prepared to fight for your place again. You're not just going to get back to first choice, it's all about your strength of character.

6) Do you have any pre-match/game day rituals?

 Not too many really, I just listen to a bit of music, something to calm me down before I go out there. Then I just try and focus on the game. Quite a few of the others have some but I don't really.

7) What's your proudest moment of your rugby career so far?

 I was having this chat with some of the boys last night actually! I'd probably say winning the final, when I'd had my first season here. I'd come from the Falcons and I don't think people expected me to make the transition that well. I'd had five big games leading up to it and so to win at Twickenham in front of 80,000 was a very proud day.

8) If you weren't a professional rugby player, what would you be doing? You studied Law at Cambridge so something to do with that?

 Maybe something to do with that. I broke my leg and had to have a lot of rehab and obviously just wanted to get back into playing professional rugby. Future careers are something you really have to think about as a rugby player and for a lot of the lads this is all they've ever known. My future's a bit up in the air at the moment so I'll have to get thinking and get back to you on that one!

9) Who's the most influential player you've played against or with?

 There's quite a few really! I won't be able to just say one...Johnny Wilkinson was massive for me at Newcastle, he's obviously a fantastic player. Toby Flood's another. One you might not have heard of...Corey Harris, he was basically my competition at Newcastle, he was just a constant professional. His conduct, the way he trained...he was really influential. There's so many fantastic players that spring to mind, they're all equally important so I couldn't choose just one.

10) How do you unwind after a match?

 Some weeks obviously, depending on the game, it can be difficult mentally to unwind. If it's an evening game it's sometimes easier kust to go out and have a few drinks but it does vary. Afternoon games you can go out, get some fast food, pig out a little and have some KFC or something like that. Just unwind and try to put the match to one side because come Monday, you're going to be going over it all with the coaches. 

Quick Fire:

Eat out/Taeaway: Eat out.

Night in/Night out: Night out.

Weights/Cardio: Cardio.

Blondes/Brunettes: Both.

Early mornings/Late nights: Early mornings.

Beer/Spirits: Beer.

Blackberry/Iphone: Iphone.

Favourites:

Holiday destination: Las Vegas.

Film: The Shawshank Redemption.

Rugby Player: Geoff Parling.

Sport other than rugby? Football (supports Man. City).

Band/Type of music: Oasis.

Television programme: Entourage or Californication.