Neill Francis contradicts himself. Why?

I know there's (at least) one other thread about Francis's recent remarks but I tend not to read every page of a long thread so, if you're like me, you'll appreciate this in a new thread rather than being at the tail end of an existing thread. My local paper has an interesting article about this. I'll paste the most relevant parts here:

ROB Howley jumped to Warren Gatland's defence after former Ireland lock Neil Francis made an extraordinary personal attack on Wales's head coach.

Francis registered on Welsh radar screens back in 1992 when finding himself on the wrong end of a haymaker from Tony Copsey in an Ireland-Wales clash at Lansdowne Road.

He has since cultivated a reputation for abrasive punditry and ahead of the Six Nations encounter in Cardiff on Saturday he dug out some old lines he had offered the world heading into the championship, referring to Gatland as 'Wazza' and saying he had "the intellectual properties of a tub of Flora".

He also harked back to Gatland's final Test selection on the Lions tour of 2013 in which the New Zealander left out Brian O'Driscoll and named ten Welsh starters.

(Section deleted)

The former Wales scrum-half might have gone further and referred the world to remarks Francis made after the Lions 41-16 third Test victory over Australia.

Writing in the Irish Independent after the game two years ago, he said: "The delineation between our dreams of O'Driscoll captaining the Lions in a deciding test and Gatland's pragmatic approach to winning it was key.

"Gatland's decision to infuse new players into the side jump-started his team's flagging morale.

"The pressure on Gatland … must have been phenomenal. The change in personnel fortified the team and gave them a sense of belief."


You can read the full article here if you wish: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/WALES-v-IRELAND-Rob-Howley-hits-personal-attack/story-26162273-detail/story.html#ixzz3UH87VZFQ

Francis is a WUM by and large so I wouldnt get too worked up by what he says. I didnt like Gatland's approach to many things from the start of the tour. I am biased and would have picked Drico but I dont think it would have made much difference either way. I dont think Gatland handled the situation well at all. He is not known for diplomacy and even Martin Williams in a recent interview on TalkSport admitted that the Wales team often gets frustrated with some of his comments to the media. I think Gatland ended up using the O'Driscoll debacle as a sort of excercise in boosting his own ego.

Francis must be delighted with all this press he's getting, looks like his comments have done the trick. To be honest I'd never heard of him until this week!!

Why does he contradict himself? Because he doesn't care about being consistent, or being right, or even getting across his real views and opinions. He just cares about generating attention hence selling papers and getting website clicks and hence him getting paid.

He's basically a professional Shoitehawk. Thats why he's not consistent. He's honestly not worth your time and certainly not worth starting a thread over. All he does is try to work out what buttons to push to generate this kind of reaction. He was a shoite player and he's an even worse pundit.

Does that answer your question

He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Francis must be delighted with all this press he's getting, looks like his comments have done the trick. To be honest I'd never heard of him until this week!!

I'd only really heard about his comments saying that gay people don't play (or are interested in) sport. I think that tells you all you need to know about him.

Keith wood just did the same. He says I'm not worried about Wales like I was against England and we ll put two scores on Wales then further down the interview he says Wales are the biggest challenge. Make your mind up Keith

Notch wrote:Why does he contradict himself? Because he doesn't care about being consistent, or being right, or even getting across his real views and opinions. He just cares about generating attention hence selling papers and getting website clicks and hence him getting paid.

He's basically a professional Shoitehawk. Thats why he's not consistent. He's honestly not worth your time and certainly not worth starting a thread over. All he does is try to work out what buttons to push to generate this kind of reaction. He was a shoite player and he's an even worse pundit.

Does that answer your question

And I thought his parents were brother and sister........

GunsGerms wrote:He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

Perhaps, but back then Ireland were almost as bad as Scotland are now! Almost.

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:Keith wood just did the same. He says I'm not worried about Wales like I was against England and we ll put two scores on Wales then further down the interview he says Wales are the biggest challenge. Make your mind up Keith

I do wish Wood would stop speaking. One of my favourite players growing up, but talks utter garbage.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

Perhaps, but back then Ireland were almost as bad as Scotland are now! Almost.

Thats true. We did have some good players though and occasionally beat England but lost to everyone else bar Wales maybe. In any case I think at that point the IRFU was probably the least professional and most disorganised of all unions and that was largely the issue IMO.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

Perhaps, but back then Ireland were almost as bad as Scotland are now! Almost.

If he was playing now he'd be hard pressed to get into any provincial squad. His tally of caps is a grim reminder of the many dark years of mediocrity Irish Rugby went through.

Keith Wood is a bit different- whilst Francis is adept at calculating the most inflammatory position/choice of language, Keith Wood just seems to be all passion and no insight, and just talks a lot of rubbish whether its on TV or in print.

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

Perhaps, but back then Ireland were almost as bad as Scotland are now! Almost.

Thats true. We did have some good players though and occasionally beat England but lost to everyone else bar Wales maybe. In any case I think at that point the IRFU was probably the least professional and most disorganised of all unions and that was largely the issue IMO.

Oh yes, that I do remember. I also remember the dreadful record you guys had at Murrayfield. How times have changed eh? We'll be lucky to get within 10 points of you in a weeks time, and I'd have said 20 points had it been in Dublin.

Yes beating Scotland for a long time seemed like something I would never witness in my life time. I remember hating John Jeffery.

...but then in 1994 we got a draw. I was at that game and it felt like a win to me and I thought we were going to push on from there. It wasnt until Gatland took charge and gave debuts to Stringer, ROG, Horgan and Easterby and brought back Foley for the Scotland game in 2000 that we finally broke the mould and started winning again. 44-22. That was quite possibly the sweetest win of my life.

Ireland have lost the last couple of games at Murrayfield so hopefully we can turn that around this year.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:Keith wood just did the same. He says I'm not worried about Wales like I was against England and we ll put two scores on Wales then further down the interview he says Wales are the biggest challenge. Make your mind up Keith

I do wish Wood would stop speaking. One of my favourite players growing up, but talks utter garbage.

I do like Woddy, but does talk some rubbish at times.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

Perhaps, but back then Ireland were almost as bad as Scotland are now! Almost.

Thats true. We did have some good players though and occasionally beat England but lost to everyone else bar Wales maybe. In any case I think at that point the IRFU was probably the least professional and most disorganised of all unions and that was largely the issue IMO.

Oh yes, that I do remember. I also remember the dreadful record you guys had at Murrayfield. How times have changed eh? We'll be lucky to get within 10 points of you in a weeks time, and I'd have said 20 points had it been in Dublin.

Christ, I remember those games against Scotland, never won.
The 1995 game Johnathan Bell had come onto the scene. Had a good game at Murryfield.
Think the score was 26-13
Brendan Mullin scored.

The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Had been hammerd by England  few weeks before.

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland have lost the last couple of games at Murrayfield so hopefully we can turn that around this year.

True, but I doubt we'll have dear old Paddy Jackson playing for us this time around. Bless his cotton socks.

westisbest wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:He wasnt a shoite player? He was pretty decent. Think he may have been in 3 WC squads.

Perhaps, but back then Ireland were almost as bad as Scotland are now! Almost.

Thats true. We did have some good players though and occasionally beat England but lost to everyone else bar Wales maybe. In any case I think at that point the IRFU was probably the least professional and most disorganised of all unions and that was largely the issue IMO.

Oh yes, that I do remember. I also remember the dreadful record you guys had at Murrayfield. How times have changed eh? We'll be lucky to get within 10 points of you in a weeks time, and I'd have said 20 points had it been in Dublin.

Christ, I remember those games against Scotland, never won.
The 1995 game Johnathan Bell had come onto the scene. Had a good game at Murryfield.
Think the score was 26-13
Brendan Mullin scored.

The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Had been hammerd by England  few weeks before.

1999 was a personal favourite of mine. Stuart Grimes scored a blinder of a try, set-up by a thrilling run by Gregor Townsend.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland have lost the last couple of games at Murrayfield so hopefully we can turn that around this year.

True, but I doubt we'll have dear old Paddy Jackson playing for us this time around. Bless his cotton socks.

He really wasnt that bad. Got a bad rap for that game because of his goal kicking which admittedly should be much better.

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland have lost the last couple of games at Murrayfield so hopefully we can turn that around this year.

True, but I doubt we'll have dear old Paddy Jackson playing for us this time around. Bless his cotton socks.

He really wasnt that bad. Got a bad rap for that game because of his goal kicking which admittedly should be much better.

Not a bad player at all, but his goal kicking was a huge factor in Scotland winning that game. He had a nightmare (and if I recall correctly followed-up it up with another nightmare at Murrayfield against Edinburgh in an Ulster jersey).

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland have lost the last couple of games at Murrayfield so hopefully we can turn that around this year.

True, but I doubt we'll have dear old Paddy Jackson playing for us this time around. Bless his cotton socks.

He really wasnt that bad. Got a bad rap for that game because of his goal kicking which admittedly should be much better.

Not a bad player at all, but his goal kicking was a huge factor in Scotland winning that game. He had a nightmare (and if I recall correctly followed-up it up with another nightmare at Murrayfield against Edinburgh in an Ulster jersey).

ROG also had a nightmare when he came on and did some really daft things.

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGerms wrote:Ireland have lost the last couple of games at Murrayfield so hopefully we can turn that around this year.

True, but I doubt we'll have dear old Paddy Jackson playing for us this time around. Bless his cotton socks.

He really wasnt that bad. Got a bad rap for that game because of his goal kicking which admittedly should be much better.

Not a bad player at all, but his goal kicking was a huge factor in Scotland winning that game. He had a nightmare (and if I recall correctly followed-up it up with another nightmare at Murrayfield against Edinburgh in an Ulster jersey).

ROG also had a nightmare when he came on and did some really daft things.

True, if I recall correctly ROG's kicking game went to pot and he then tried to force things. Jim Hamilton also unsettled the Irish pack on the day, in probably his best game for Scotland.

I don't read much into it. I was at the Aviva last season for the Scotland game and we were comprehensively outclassed.

westisbest wrote:The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Was living in Scotland and everyone was some friends of my brother were giving us lots of stick in the first 20 minutes when Scotland were winning... second half, they were very quiet indeed!

They were 10-0 up and then Ireland fought back and scored 44 unanswered points. Scotland got a couple of late consolation tries but the middle two quarters of the game they were completely humped.

Notch wrote:

westisbest wrote:The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Was living in Scotland and everyone was some friends of my brother were giving us lots of stick in the first 20 minutes when Scotland were winning... second half, they were very quiet indeed!

They were 10-0 up and then Ireland fought back and scored 44 unanswered points. Scotland got a couple of late consolation tries but the middle two quarters of the game they were completely humped.

I remember the game - David Humphreys was awesome.

You think Francis is bad. You've seen nothing yet.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Notch wrote:

westisbest wrote:The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Was living in Scotland and everyone was some friends of my brother were giving us lots of stick in the first 20 minutes when Scotland were winning... second half, they were very quiet indeed!

They were 10-0 up and then Ireland fought back and scored 44 unanswered points. Scotland got a couple of late consolation tries but the middle two quarters of the game they were completely humped.

I remember the game - David Humphreys was awesome.

Ronan O'Gara, Simon Easterby, Shane Horgan, John Hayes and Peter Stringer all made their debuts in that game. Basically the core of the Ireland team for nearly ten years after that!

http://www.the42.ie/waren-gatland-ireland-1987848-Mar2015/

Read comments under that article to see exactly what Irish fans think of Neil Francis.

For the uninitiated, link below is to Apres Match (a spoof Irish show which comes on after soccer and rugby internationals) skit on Matt Williams and Neil Francis discussing Ireland's match in the last RWC v Italy - not all that removed from the reality. Franno is a muttonhead that nobody in Ireland takes a blind bit of notice off, bit like an Irish version of Austin Healey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2JdAPZ8lpQ

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Notch wrote:

westisbest wrote:The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Was living in Scotland and everyone was some friends of my brother were giving us lots of stick in the first 20 minutes when Scotland were winning... second half, they were very quiet indeed!

They were 10-0 up and then Ireland fought back and scored 44 unanswered points. Scotland got a couple of late consolation tries but the middle two quarters of the game they were completely humped.

I remember the game - David Humphreys was awesome.

Ah yes it was us that scored 44 answered points, not Scotland scoring 22.

Notch wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Notch wrote:

westisbest wrote:The 44-22 win at LR was fantastic. If I rember correctly Scotland scored 22 unanswered points.
Humphries came on and had a good game.

Was living in Scotland and everyone was some friends of my brother were giving us lots of stick in the first 20 minutes when Scotland were winning... second half, they were very quiet indeed!

They were 10-0 up and then Ireland fought back and scored 44 unanswered points. Scotland got a couple of late consolation tries but the middle two quarters of the game they were completely humped.

I remember the game - David Humphreys was awesome.

Ronan O'Gara, Simon Easterby, Shane Horgan, John Hayes and Peter Stringer all made their debuts in that game. Basically the core of the Ireland team for nearly ten years after that!

http://www.the42.ie/waren-gatland-ireland-1987848-Mar2015/

Read comments under that article to see exactly what Irish fans think of Neil Francis.

I remember my cousin (from cork) around 99 telling me about ROG and how good he was going to be.

He looked about 15.
Remember the baggier jerseys

Had some good wins against Scotland since.

Probably not a good idea for Francis to set foot in Cardiff for a while. I doubt he'd speak like this in person, so why do it behind the microphone? Quinlan and Wood are entitled to their opinion (though I wish Wood would just shut up sometimes, the guy is too bitter to still be commentating on Wales games), just like Gatland is; yet when Gatland does give his opinion he seems to be attacked left, right and centre. It was probably best for the Irish guys to keep their mouths shut, they don't want to end up with egg on their face. I thought we were all about respect in rugby, it's all sounding a bit football-like!