Franks uncertain on future

If All Black Owen Franks elects to test the overseas market next year, a soft sales pitch should suffice. At 30 years of age, and with a reconditioned Achilles tendon continuing to improve following surgery in September last year, the tighthead prop could be considered a blue chip investment by any foreign club willing to meet the price for a 105-test All Black.

Franks, like a number of All Blacks on the northern tour, is off contract with New Zealand Rugby after the World Cup next year and isn’t sure whether he will stay, or participate in the posttournament exodus and take his family overseas.

‘‘It is an option, yeah,’’ he says in reference to a potential move overseas. ‘‘I will keep both options alive, I am in no rush – just see how the season plays out next year.’’

Given he has been an All Black since 2009, and next year’s global tournament will be his third, Franks may decide he wants to disembark the rugby merry-goround in New Zealand and cash-up while the going is good.

If NZ Rugby doesn’t do everything it can to retain him it would be surprising. Quality tightheads, especially if still in good nick, are rare beasts.

Nepo Laulala, on the bench for the test against Ireland in Dublin tomorrow morning, is the logical successor if Franks departs but, with just 15 test caps in his resume, he is clearly well short of experience by comparison.

Franks feels rejuvenated since the operation to repair his left Achilles tendon, and the six months rehabilitation also enabled him to get therapy on the other Achilles.

In addition to the surgery probably adding another couple of years to his career, Franks said it was beneficial to his all-round wellbeing.

‘‘I think anyone who has had a chronic injury, they get used to it. I could probably have kept playing with it but it affects your performance, it affects other things. It affects your mood, what you can and can’t do.

‘‘So obviously your game would deteriorate, and you would call it quits because you don’t really enjoy it. Probably before I thought I would have the surgery, do the rehab and it would be brand new. But it is a long process, especially with tendons that take a long time to come right. I am really happy with the result now.’’

Last year, he was finally invited into the All Blacks’ leadership group, and, upon his return from injury, he kept his place among the select bunch of players who drive the team’s agenda during the build-up to tests.

Franks didn’t seem offended by having to wait eight years to get an invite into the inner-sanctum.

‘‘I suppose I have not been a huge talker [in the past], but having a little bit more of a voice.

‘‘I didn’t think too much about it in the past but it was something I wanted to be involved in and take on.’’

Whether Franks will surpass Tony Woodcock’s record of most tests for an All Blacks prop – the loosehead racked up 118 caps before retiring after the 2015 World Cup – will depend on whether he re-signs with NZ Rugby.

With the Rugby Championship reduced to one round and there being no inbound tests during World Cup year, Franks won’t have the chance to sweep past Woodcock’s total in 2019.

Unlike some players who use milestones to motivate themselves, Franks said he wasn’t bothered.

‘‘To be honest, not really. Woody has really deserved that record, his durability was awesome.

‘‘If it happens, it happens. I think most guys who get past 50 . . . or up around 100 tests you are obviously way at the other end of the scale and you know your time left is limited to a certain degree.

‘‘So you forget about the number and just try to make the most of it.’’

A member of the Crusaders since 2009, Franks lives in Christchurch. He isn’t a big drinker, does yoga to stay flexible, and his love of heaving the weights and knocking back protein shakes has been well documented.

Being forced to skip the majority of the international calendar last year gave him a fresh perspective of what rugby fans go through when they watch the national team in action and he enjoyed joining them on the emotional rides.

‘‘I wouldn’t say you take it [being an All Black on tour] for granted, because you realise it’s a wicked job, but I supposed you get used to things.

‘‘Being detached from it, it was good to see how interested the New Zealand public is in the All Blacks and how everyone looks forward to the games.

‘‘And then everyone loves dissecting it the next day. It was kind of cool to be on the outside, and almost be a fan again.’’

‘‘I will keep both options alive, I am in no rush – just see how the season plays out next year.’’ Owen Franks