Francis set for Cardiff showdown

By Mark Stevens
10/2/17

Wales prop Tomas Francis says England’s 15-match unbeaten record has not even been talked about in the lead-up to Saturday’s RBS Six Nations encounter in Cardiff and will have have no bearing when the two sides line-up.

Eddie Jones’ side have yet to experience defeat since losing to Australia at Twickenham in their World Cup pool in October 2015, but will face a hostile reception in the Welsh capital this weekend.

And Exeter Chiefs tight-head Francis, brought into the starting line-up after an impressive cameo off the bench in last weekend’s win over Italy last Sunday, cannot wait to get stuck into the action against the Red Rose country.

“We haven’t even thought about their winning run,” said the 24-year-old forward. “We’re home against England. It wouldn’t have mattered if they’d lost last week, it’s still just as important that we have to beat them at home, so we haven’t focused on that streak at all. It brings us enjoyment to win as a team - even more so against England.”

Francis is one of two changes Welsh coach Rob Howley has made to his starting line-up for the game, the other coming on the other side of the front-row where Rob Evans is also rewarded for his display in Rome a week ago.

It was 2015 when York-born Francis first pulled on the famous red jersey and his predominantly English family have become diehard Welsh fans in the process.

“All my family have a bit of kit and my aunty has a daffodil heart she wears to the games,” said Francis, who joined the Chiefs in 2014 after spells with London Scottish and Doncaster Knights in the Championship.

But it won’t be just the Francis family that will offer a familiar face to the prop this weekend - lining up against him will be Exeter team-mate, Jack Nowell, who himself has been recalled to the England starting XV in place of Gloucester’s Jonny May.

Although rivals for 80 minutes at least this weekend, the duo share plenty of common traits, including using the same barbers in Crediton and a love of all things Lego.

“I wanted a hobby during the autumn,” said Francis, who will win his 19th international cap on Saturday.

“I make one car every week and I have been involved in every home game so far. I am doing a Le Mans car this week.

“When I come up for the whole week, I don’t travel home, so I spend a lot of time in the hotel and it is good to get my mind off the game sometimes.”

Francis, who studied mechanical engineering, says he has always enjoyed the building side of things and it’s a hobby he shares with Cornishman Nowell, who himself admitted his Lego obsession had helped him get through his spell on the sidelines with injury earlier this season.

“I think Jonny [May] colours all day but I had Lego, probably not just because I was injured, but I actually do a bit of it all the time,” said Nowell (pictured).

“I have a lot of cultures that I built over the five months I was out: a VW camper van, a chopper, an airplane, a fishing boat. They are all in my room. My girlfriend doesn’t like it because I am always cluttering up the house, but I am a big fan of Lego.”

But it's not just a love of Danish building blocks that Francis and Nowell share.

Both men are currently sporting unconventional hairstyles, although Francis admits that is pretty much where any comparison stops.

"We go to the same barber," explains Francis. "There are quite a few wacky haircuts at Exeter. It's all about making your mark, isn't it?

"In rugby, you have a licence to do it. In a normal job, you couldn't get away with some of the haircuts!"