Exeter tighthead knows Gatland won’t be doing him any favours TOMAS FRANCIS
TOMAS Francis expects no loyalty from Wales boss Warren Gatland as he ramps up his bid to become the Red Dragons’ World Cup starting tight-head.
In the injury absence of Samson Lee, Exeter prop Francis performed superbly during the Autumn Tests, helping Wales snap a run of 13 straight defeats against Australia before notching his first try in 36 internationals in the victory over South Africa.
Far from feeling secure, though, Francis told The
Rugby Paper: “I never feel rooted anywhere. Once you start feeling rooted it can be taken away from you very quickly.
“Gats gave me my first cap in 2015 and I’ve played a lot under his tenure, but there’s no loyalty from him and if I don’t perform and keep putting my hand forward, I don’t expect any freebies for what I might have done in the past.
“I enjoy it with Wales and I was happy with my performances last month, but then I come back to Exeter and have to get in the team here as well.
“If I can play well and help Exeter perform well, hopefully I’ll get selected in the Wales camp – then it’s about putting your hand up again.
“Samson (right) will be back and we had four tight-heads in camp last month with Leon Brown and Dillon Lewis as well, so it’s a good place for Wales to be in with big competition across the board and I’ve got a lot of work to do to get picked.” Francis, 26, believes Wales struck an important blow with their 9-6 win over the Wallabies, who they will meet again next September in their World Cup Pool.
He said: “The monkey is off our backs now. We had been so close to them so many times and while it was a game for the purists – not loads of tries or attacking rugby – we were so pleased with the overall performance.
“Not many teams stop Australia scoring a try – England couldn’t do it – but we did that and with the World Cup coming up and them being in our group as well, it was nice to get that psychological edge going into a big year.
“You try not to think about the mental aspects of those records too much, but we’re in a good place as a squad now.
“It was good to achieve something special over the autumn with a strong group based on a good culture.”
Francis was one of four Exeter props on Test duty last month – a sure-fire sign of depth – with fellow tight-heads Alex Hepburn and Harry Williams and loosehead Ben Moon providing equally sterling service for England.
He added: “We had four front rows away but there were still two internationals at the club in Greg Holmes (Australia) and Moray Low (Scotland), backed up by England U20s boys in Marcus Street and Billy Keast.
“The depth of our squad is now amazing which is why I can never afford to relax, either at club level or for my country.”