Owen Franks confirms All Blacks aspirations ahead of injury-delayed Hurricanes debut
Three years after he was dropped from Sir Steve Hansen’s 2019 World Cup squad, former All Blacks prop Owen Franks has confirmed his desire to play international rugby for New Zealand again.
Speaking ahead of his Hurricanes debut against the Fijian Drua at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday, Franks – who has returned to New Zealand from English club Northampton Saints – outlined his aspirations to return to the test arena.
“I’m just competitive. I just want to see if I can mix it with these guys,” Franks, a 108-test veteran who played for the All Blacks between 2009 and 2019, said of his motivation behind his return to New Zealand.
“I suppose I really enjoyed my time in England, Northampton was a great club, enjoyed the rugby, but it’s different when you know there’s no possibility of making the national team.
“I don’t consider myself in the [All Blacks selection] frame at the minute, but it’s just a different feeling when you know there’s a mountain top to reach, so to speak, and that’s hugely motivating.”
Asked whether those comments indicate that he is open to All Blacks selection, Franks made his test rugby intentions clear.
“I think if you’re playing rugby in New Zealand and you’re eligible for the All Blacks and that’s not your goal, then maybe you should rethink why you’re playing here.”
Returning to the All Blacks would be a remarkable comeback for Franks, who was the biggest omission from Hansen’s World Cup squad three years ago.
The All Blacks went on to endure a disappointing campaign in Japan, finishing third following a semi-final exit at the hands of England.
Many felt Franks would have offered New Zealand with the physicality and experience that was painfully absent in that defeat in Yokohama.
Instead, it was Northampton that acquired those traits as Franks took his talents to the English Premiership in the wake of that World Cup.
There, the All Blacks centurion – who won back-to-back World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015 – made 22 appearances for the Saints before announcing his decision, almost a year ago to the day, that he would return to New Zealand.
However, rather than re-signing with the Crusaders – the franchise he made 150 appearances for and won three Super Rugby titles with between 2009 and 2019 – Franks signed with the Hurricanes on a two-year deal.
The 34-year-old has had to wait longer than expected to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut for the Wellington-based side, though.
After tearing his achilles while training on his own in November, Franks has missed the opening 11 rounds of this year’s competition, with his last match coming for Northampton against Wasps last February.
That 15-month drought will come to an end when the Hurricanes host the Drua this weekend in a match that Franks will make his first appearance in the yellow-and-black jersey from the bench.
“Been a long road to get back here,” Franks said of that prospect. “Just excited to repay the faith that the Hurricanes have shown in me over the last year. Just desperate to do a good job for the club.”
The Drua clash will also provide Franks with the foundation to begin his quest for an All Blacks re-call, which may come as early as this July’s test series against Ireland.
Franks knows there’s plenty of work to be done before then, but he said he would “love to” play at a third World Cup next year in France.
Selection for that tournament would avenge his exclusion from the squad that travelled to Japan in 2019, and it might not be an unfeasible prospect given the current uncertainty surrounding the makeup of the All Blacks’ front row.
Few props are considered certainties to feature in Ian Foster’s upcoming national squad for the Irish series, and if Franks can string together a few convincing performances at the latter stage of the regular season and playoffs, he could well be in the mix.
First and foremost, though, Franks needs to take to the field for the Hurricanes and end his injury-induced spell on the sideline, something he is as motivated to do as he is to play for the All Blacks once more.
“Like any long-term injury, or back-to-back one, there are peaks and troughs, but I’m committed to coming back to New Zealand and giving it a crack, so that was always at the forefront of my mind,” he said.
“My motivation and drive never wavered. Like I said, have your ups and downs, but it’s all good.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments