England’s surprise pick will be not content just playing a bit part
HAVING seen off Ben Te’o and Danny Cipriani, Piers Francis aims to further silence his detractors by claiming a World Cup starting jersey.
Francis, 29, has completed a remarkable rugby journey to reach this stage after initially being rejected by Saracens as a youngster and then later being binned by Edinburgh, in 2014.
The Gravesend-born playmaker refused to lie down, rebuilding his confidence at Doncaster before heading to New Zealand in 2015, where he established himself in Super Rugby with Auckland Blues and earned a first England call in 2017 after signing for Northampton.
Francis’ selection ahead of Cipriani and Te’o created a social media storm. However, Red Rose boss Eddie Jones sees him as the man to cover numbers ten and 12 and five-cap Francis has no intention of meekly playing second fiddle to established stars like Owen Farrell, George Ford and Manu Tuilagi as he targets a leading role in England’s bid for World Cup glory. Francis told The Rugby
Paper: “It’s not my opinion or decision to be here; I’m here because Eddie’s picked me and I’m just trying to do what I do best.
“I’m not someone with 50-plus caps who’s playing in an England shirt every weekend and has cemented his position, so there’s pressure there. But there’s big pressure on everybody and I can only concentrate on doing my own job to help the team.
“I’m seen as a 10/12 predominantly, so Eddie just wants me to be really good at the basics and be excellent at what I can offer as a really good team man. But I’m not content to just be in the 31, we all want to be starting every game and that’s my ambition.”
Francis added: “It’s a squad thing but everyone’s fighting for a starting berth and I’m no different. I’ll push my teammates as hard as they’ll be pushing me and it’s been a healthily competitive camp so far, which is where it has to be in any top-class team.
“There has to be a level of anxiousness and competition within the team but we’re all pulling in the same direction. That’s key because it can be a fine balance at times, particularly in a physical sport like rugby where you’re running into each other, but it’s a very exciting group.”
Standing 6ft (1.83m) and weighing 14st 3lbs (90kg), Francis is not the biggest ball-carrying centre like Te’o, nor does he possess the maverick wizardry of Cipriani, the Premiership and RPA player of the year.
However, regular Northampton watchers will attest to his bravery, ability to break the line and link play which helped Saints reach last season’s play-offs.
Francis said: “I’ve always been that smaller guy so I’ve got to find other ways to break down defences and punch above my weight. That’s where I’ve got to add my own selling points through my footwork, spotting a line and carrying the ball or distributing – and I didn’t feel outmuscled against Wales last week.”
Francis’ ability to make an impact is backed by Northampton attack coach Sam Vesty, who said: “You can’t have seven superstars in a back-line. Piers is like the glue who never stops working, is consistent and gives you everything.
“Defence has always been a really strong part of his game and last season he put in some killer passes. He makes line-breaks as well and whether he’s at first or second receiver or out in the wider channels, he can do it all and has a knack of scoring tries. He deserves this chance.”
After injuring a shoulder in December that caused him to miss the Six Nations, the chances of him making the World Cup squad looked remote before that never-say-die spirit once again kicked-in.
Francis added: “Missing the Six Nations was gutting but it’s a massive motivating factor to be in the England team, particularly in a World Cup year, and I never lost belief that I could make this current squad.
“That’s why I came back from New Zealand two years ago, it’s all part of the plan.”