Brian O'driscoll

Hi Brian, how's life?

Not a bother thanks, Small Talk. And yourself?

Trying to look on the bright side, Brian. Now then, for a reason in no way connected to the fact that this chat was set up by Gillette, Small Talk feels the need to ask you for some personal grooming tips?

[Chuckles] Well, obviously I use the whole Gillette package, everything from their new razor to the shaving balm. I'm not particularly vain but you know how it is these days, you have to make an effort to look good.

Are you saying beards are dirty?

No, I've nothing at all against beards. Though I'm probably a little jealous that I've never been able to grow one.

Here's something we want to know: when you heard the All Blacks calling for Lote Tuqiri to be banned for spearing Richie McCaw, did you laugh out loud at their hypocrisy, or merely curse their double-standards?

I haven't seen that tackle but I've read about it. I'm just glad something is being done about dangerous play. If I had to be the guinea pig that made that happen, then that's a pity. But it's in the past and I've moved on. As for the hypocrisy thing, I'm not going to get into that.

How much money do you think Small Talk should stake on Ireland winning the World Cup next year?

It's certainly not impossible, we have the players to do it. But our primary focus in on getting out of our pool, which is a tough one. France will be determined to do well as hosts and will be exceptionally hard to beat, while we've had a few mighty tussles with Argentina down the years.

Speaking of France, it's often said that you want to move there to play your club rugby ...

I like the French lifestyle and there's definitely something attractive about waking up every morning and seeing that big yellow dot in the sky shining down on you. But I'm fully committed to Leinster and very happy here. As for what happens at the end of my contract, I just don't know. You never say never.

Is it because you fancy playing in France that you always seem to perform well against them?

No, I think it's just that I did well against them the first time I played them and I got confidence from that. Then it's a self-sustaining thing, you tell yourself you've always done well against them in the past so there's no reason you shouldn't do so again. Having said that, I've also had some stinkers against them.

Do you have any pre-match superstitions?

Not really, but when I captain a side I like to go out third last if possible.

Why third last?

Ideally I'd be last but Shaggy [Shane Horgan] is really attached to that and Den [Dennis Hickie] insists on being second last, so I trot out third from the end. It's not a big thing with me, though.

What's your poison?

Coke.

Are you sponsored by them?

[Slightly offended] No.

Cheese or chocolate? Definitely chocolate. Galaxy is my favourite bar.

Paris Hilton or Scarlett Johansson?

[Affectionately] Scarlett.

It seems we're pressed for time, Brian, so how about concluding with a joke?

Oh god, it's tough being put on the spot like that. How about I tell you a funny thing that happened me recently instead?

Why that would be excellent ... [Merrily] I was out with some friends in Dublin recently and got talking to a very nice girl. We swapped phone numbers at the end of the night but, unknown to me, one of my friends got his hands on my mobile and replaced her number with his, while keeping her name. [Chuckles at his chum's cheek] The next day "she" sent me a very interesting text and I replied in kind. The messages quickly got more and more spicey and I was getting quite excited. But then, through fits of mad laughter,my friend told me the truth - it was one of the biggest disappointments of my life!

If your mate was to sell these texts to a tabloid, would they have to run them with a load of asterisks? [Chortling] Possibly. But he's a very good friend so he wouldn't do that.

Good to hear, Brian. Thanks for the chat. Bye. Bye Small Talk.

Brian O'Driscoll is an official rugby ambassador for Gillette and uses the Gillette Fusion razor to help him look his best on and off the pitch. The Gillette Fusion razor has 5 blades on the front for added comfort and a precision trimmer on the back for tricky places.