All Blacks 'frankly' hate losing to England

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It's taken a rookie to say it, but at last someone has. The All Blacks still love beating England. In fact the prospect sends goosebumps up a certain prop's Popeye arms.

When Owen Franks was told by Graham Henry that he was playing tighthead prop at Twickenham this weekend, the 21-year-old Cantab doesn't mind admitting that it sent him all, well, tingly.

Franks was one of the two notable selections in Henry's starting XV to face the under-siege English, Hawke's Bay flyer Zac Guildford the other as the pair came in to replace Wellington's Neemia Tialata and Cory Jane respectively.

Franks may well be just keeping Tialata's jersey warm ahead of the French finale in Marseille the week following, but, gee, it's hard to fault his honesty as he reflected on a test he didn't mind terming the biggest of his short career.

''It will be huge,'' he said as he strode out to face the media soon after getting included in the XV to go knock off that Hillary Trophy this weekend.

''I got some pretty wicked goosebumps when I heard my name read out. Man, I can't wait.''

It's not exactly unheard of to hear such enthusiasm from a guy who's played just seven tests (three starts) hitherto. But such forthrightness? Now that's another matter.

Why the goosebumps, the big man was asked.

''Just growing up it was always a real physical game, England and the All Blacks. Kiwis hate losing to the Poms. I just can't wait to play. I've been out for a while so to get another shot, I'm just excited.''

Hang on. What was that in there? Kiwis loving to beat Poms? You heard right.

''It's just such a big country and it's such a wicked rivalry, and when you lose to England they talk it up heaps. You just don't want to lose,'' he said, verbalising what a lot of the All Blacks have been reluctant to all week.

Yes, this match still means a lot to the All Blacks. The edge is still there. Andrew Mehrtens will be pleased.

But for Franks it's an edge borne of respect.

''They talk it up lots, but I like the English,'' says the 112kg Crusaders prodigy. ''Mum was born in England, so it's just a good rivalry. I just want to get stuck in.''

It's been an interesting selection, because Henry mentioned earlier in the tour that Franks was on this trip mainly to soak up Mike Cron's world-class coaching and, essentially, to keep learning his craft. You got the impression he wouldn't necessarily see much game time.

Now he goes out, leapfrogging Auckland's John Afoa, to bang heads with England loosie Tim Payne in what could be one of the pivotal confrontations of the test – the always contentious scrum time.

Franks says his main focus for the trip has been in coming back ''a better player'' and technique has been his big work-on.
Henry calls him an ''impressive young guy'' and rates him a potential test star.

Skipper Richie McCaw says he's just blown away that the third youngest prop in All Black history can be so good so soon.

''He's pretty dedicated and a strong man who just wants to learn,'' said McCaw. ''As his experience builds he's got the ability to be great and in this team for a long time.''

Franks, though, is just concentrating on the little things right now.

''I'm a lot better now at handling the off-field stuff, and maybe the pressure of test football better.''

Speaking of the big arena, he rates Aussie Benn Robinson (''a pretty strong guy'') his toughest opponent to scrum against and concedes brother Ben is a pretty trough training partner when it comes to pushing tin.

Ben wins the squat and bench press and Owen takes the power clean and snatch honours. Not that they're counting, of course.

- © Fairfax NZ News