THE SILENT ASSASSIN
There are certain things that Owen Franks loves doing. Scrummaging, weights, eating red meat and drinking protein shakes.
There are other things he doesn’t enjoy so much – like talking. In a 10-year test career that has seen him win more than 100 test caps and establish himself as one of the great tight-head props in All Blacks history, Franks has revealed next to nothing about himself.
The expression ‘man of few words’ was seemingly written for him and intriguingly it’s not a case of Franks being media shy and garrulous when the cameras and tape recorders are packed away.
It’s not like that at all. Franks is by all accounts as verbally economical with his team-mates. He is as much a mystery to them as he is to everyone else.
Well, mystery isn’t quite right, more that he seemingly shields himself in the same way and leaves his team-mates wondering if they are getting to the core of Franks.
But those who have been around Franks for some time, have come to realise that his frugal use of words doesn’t prevent him from being a highly effective communicator.
Just because he’s quiet, reserved and not prone to pushing himself into the midst of a debate doesn’t mean he’s not capable of the most expert analysis. It doesn’t mean he’s not a deep thinker.
Basically, when it comes to Franks, it’s best not to judge the book by the cover as he’s become one
