Neil Francis has always had a unique ability to provoke a some extreme feelings with the words he writes. Usually this ability doesn't go beyond these shores but last week it very definitely did. Francis' assertion that Warren Gatland's intelligence was akin to that of a tub of Flora did not go down well with our Six Nations rivals across the Irish Sea.
Wales' subsequent triumph in Cardiff on Saturday prompted this kind of response from some media outlets. (Which, to be fair, is probably something we would have seen if the boot was on the other foot as well)
.@IrishRugby Something for you to enjoy with your breakfast in the morning, lads #WALvIRE pic.twitter.com/lr4eevbAXx
— WalesOnline 🏴 (@WalesOnline) March 14, 2015
It seems the reaction to the remark was more than Francis himself was expecting. Speaking on the Last Word with Matt Cooper on Monday, the former Ireland international conceded that the Flora jibe was "probably a personal attack".
Francis went on;
I do think he is a good coach, but he has a propensity for saying stupid things, and I’ve probably just matched him on that count.
Getting Neil Francis to seemingly backtrack on his comments, the Welsh are really on a roll this week.
