NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / Super Rugby

Rugby: Owen Franks 'pumped' for starting role

Patrick McKendry
By Patrick McKendry
Reporter·APNZ·
7 Mar, 2012 04:37 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Owen Franks is pumped up to face the Chiefs on Friday. Photo / Andrew Cornaga

Owen Franks is pumped up to face the Chiefs on Friday. Photo / Andrew Cornaga

Owen Franks admits he isn't the easiest man to get along with if he doesn't start with the Crusaders every week.

Controlled fury is a pre-requisite for tight forwards and Franks walks a fine line at times if he doesn't get to wear the number three jersey.

But now he has received the nod to start against the Chiefs in Napier on Friday after two matches from the reserves bench, he is a new man.

"Hell yeah, I'm pumped up for it,'' he said. "I never enjoy sitting on the bench and this one is going to be a grudge match so I'm very happy to be starting. It's going to be a big one for me.''

The problem for Franks and the conundrum for coach Todd Blackadder is that the Crusaders have three extremely capable props in Franks, his big brother Ben, and Wyatt Crockett.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Fitting three players into two positions is tough and disgruntled individuals can quickly distract teammates.

Blackadder went with Crockett, last year's New Zealand Super Rugby player of the year, at loosehead and Ben at tighthead against the Blues and Highlanders.

This time it is Crockett's turn to sit on the bench, with Ben, who can play both sides of the scrum, at loosehead.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I understand the reasoning behind it and the benefits,'' said Owen.

"Todd sat us props down at the start of the season and talked to us about rotating us. He said we've got three pretty good props and he wasn't going to favour anyone over anyone else. Whether that was indication of pre-season I don't know, but I thought I had a pretty good pre-season.''

Franks, a 24-year-old with 31 All Blacks caps to his name, is a demanding individual as befits someone who brings his own lunchbox with him wherever he goes - even on tour when meals are provided.

He doesn't like accepting second best which is why he is generally so offended when discovering his isn't the third name read out in any team sheet.

Discover more

Opinion

Gregor Paul: Finally we have real halfbacks

06 Mar 10:05 PM
Super Rugby

Rugby: Crusaders forwards will make amends - Crockett

06 Mar 11:20 PM
Super Rugby

Rugby: Crusaders name in three ABs to face Chiefs

07 Mar 12:06 AM
Super Rugby

Rugby: Chiefs prop faces formidable front row

07 Mar 04:30 PM

"I have the philosophy where I allow myself to get pissed off for an hour or so but I don't let my teammates see. Then I go out and train hard. It's tough but you just have to deal with it.''

Now he has got the result he always looks for mid-week, he is turning his attentions to the Chiefs at McLean Park, a match which promises to be an interesting one, not least because it will be the first time midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has come up against his former team.

It will also be the first time Chiefs assistant coach Wayne Smith has coached against his former Crusaders franchise.

"We've both won one and lost one and the Chiefs are coming off a huge one [victory over the Blues],'' said Franks, who received a white card for a punch thrown at Highlanders prop Chris King on Saturday.

"It was dealt with reasonably well from my point of view,'' said Franks who was cleared on Monday. "It was only minor but in the past it could have resulted in a sinbinning when really it was only a penalty.''

In other changes to the Crusaders, All Black Corey Flynn will start at hooker for the first time this season and Luke Romano replaces Sam Whitelock at lock. Zac Guildford has been reinstated to the left wing, with fellow Hawke's Bay player Israel Dagg moved to the right wing and Sean Maitland to fullback.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Adam Whitelock retains his place at second-five due to Ryan Crotty's hamstring strain.

The Chiefs named an unchanged starting XV, with lock Mike Fitzgerald and outside back Jackson Willison replacing Fritz Lee and Declan O'Donnell on the reserves bench.

Crusaders: Ben Franks, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Tom Donnelly, George Whitelock, Matt Todd, Kieran Read (c), Andy Ellis, Tyler Bleyendaal, Zac Guildford, Adam Whitelock, Robbie Fruean, Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Wyatt Crockett, Sam Whitelock, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Tom Taylor, Tom Marshall.

Chiefs: Arizona Taumalolo, Mahonri Schwalger, Ben Tameifuna, Craig Clarke, Brodie Retallick, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Kane Thompson, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Tim Nanai-Williams, Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Robbie Robinson. Reserves: Hika Elliot, Shane Cleaver, Mike Fitzgerald, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Andrew Horrell, Jackson Willison.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Super Rugby

Rugby|super rugby

Crusaders celebrate Super Rugby title with triumphant Christchurch parade

23 Jun 04:45 AM
Herald NOW

Where does this Crusaders' win rank?

Premium
Opinion

Phil Gifford: How Crusaders' resilience toppled the Chiefs in epic final

22 Jun 06:05 PM

Anzor’s East Tāmaki hub speeds supply

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Super Rugby

Crusaders celebrate Super Rugby title with triumphant Christchurch parade

Crusaders celebrate Super Rugby title with triumphant Christchurch parade

23 Jun 04:45 AM

Fans lined Christchurch streets for the Crusaders’ Champions Parade today.

Where does this Crusaders' win rank?

Where does this Crusaders' win rank?

Premium
Phil Gifford: How Crusaders' resilience toppled the Chiefs in epic final

Phil Gifford: How Crusaders' resilience toppled the Chiefs in epic final

22 Jun 06:05 PM
'Not sure yet' – Penney coy on Crusaders coaching future

'Not sure yet' – Penney coy on Crusaders coaching future

22 Jun 03:29 AM
Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste
sponsored

Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP