YEAR IN EXILE WAS SO TOUGH
Franks wants London Irish back in elite
IT WAs a spectacular comedown for Ben Franks when he left behind the All Blacks to join london irish. ‘To go from winning a World cup to being relegated six months later was hard,’ he says.
Now, on the verge of a return to the Aviva Premiership with the Exiles, the decorated Kiwi prop is ready for the career swansong that he had in mind when he made the move.
Provided irish, who finished top of the championship table by a distance, don’t squander an 11-point advantage in the second leg of their play-off final against Yorkshire carnegie tonight, Franks will be heading back to the league that he and brother owen used to follow avidly in New Zealand.
The prop won 47 Test caps for the All Blacks and on sunday will face England at Twickenham, on behalf of the Barbarians. By then, there should have been a positive conclusion to a culture-shock season.
‘Mentally, the championship has been one of the toughest competitions i’ve been in, because i didn’t want to go down into it and let myself down,’ he says. ‘i didn’t want to let my standards slip so that people came to see me play and just said, “look at Ben Franks just p***ing around”.
‘To mentally get up for the games every week has been a challenge. There aren’t many people watching, there’s no TV and no hype. it’s all on you to mentally get yourself up for games — and there are a lot.’
For a player who operated for so long at the pinnacle of his sport, there have been eyeopening experiences, such as the pitch that was ‘like the side of a hill’, or the ‘old-fashioned concrete changing “sheds” at cornish Pirates’, which brought back memories for Franks. he has embraced the novelty of it and has had to contend with being viewed as a prized scalp.
‘Guys have tested me out,’ he says. ‘ i’ve definitely been a target. Without all the cameras around, it’s more like rugby 10 years ago, with the stuff you can get away with. it definitely brings a different edge to it, which at times i’ve enjoyed! some guys have gone out of their way to give me a bit extra, but i’ve tried to give it back!’
While Franks has been helping to take the Exiles back to the top flight, younger brother owen has been in super Rugby action with the crusaders, ahead of his key role for New Zealand in the lions series. so, based on the insight he has gained here, what sibling advice would he offer owen?
‘New Zealanders are probably still stuck in the mindset that it’s just ruck, maul and scrum here,’ he says.
‘The lions can surprise people because they’ve got a lot of attacking talent and skill in that squad. i think it’s going to be interesting. Traditionally, with the All Blacks in those June Tests, we were always rusty in the first one, then we’d have found our footing a bit by the second or third. That’s why the All Blacks have put in that game against samoa as preparation.
‘The lions will have had weeks together by then. if the lions can take that first Test, anything could happen.’
Ben also warns that his brother will have his hands full, adding: ‘i’ve enjoyed watching the Vunipolas. i know Billy is out, but owen will be going up against his brother, who is another incredible player.’