The Exeter tighthead makes his first start of this season’s campaign after making a powerful impact off the replacements bench in Rome last weekend. He plays alongside Ken Owens and Rob Evans in a new-look Wales front row as kick-off at Principality Stadium edges closer.
Rob Howley’s men will have to find their top form if they are to end the Red Rose brigade’s 15-match winning streak. And Francis is determined to lay the foundations for a second RBS 6 Nations victory.
He said: “It’s fantastic. It’s a big game to be involved in and I’m delighted. The set-piece goes a long way to deciding the game and you can guarantee your ball from there. As a prop, I would say that. We do live scrums in training with Wales and Exeter. It’s standard unit stuff. A lot of it is who wants it more when it comes to scrummaging.
“I’ve played against Joe Marler a few times, but not this year. I think the last time would have been in the Six Nations last year. He’s got 47 caps, he’s a world-class loosehead and he’s going to be a tough opponent.
“Samson did the hard work last week against Italy. He softened him up for me and I got the plaudits, which is nice. That’s all I can do and hopefully I can replicate that from the start. It’s a 23-man effort and we’ve got six great props in our squad. Whoever starts makes things easier for the others, and vice versa.”
Francis will be taking on a familiar face in the shape of Exeter Chiefs team-mate Jack Nowell, who starts on the wing in place of Jonny May. The pair go to the same barbers shop in Devon, but Francis is hoping Wales can be a cut above tomorrow afternoon.
He said: “It’s good to see Jack starting from Exeter and for us both to go from the bench to starting. It means we made an impact which is good. I’ve got a wacky hairstyle too but that’s as far as the comparison goes. We go to the same barber. 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 that.”
