“We’ve got Zammo”- Tomas Francis backs Wales speedster to match France’s explosive backline

The Provence Rugby tight-head, in his first press conference since rejoining the Wales set-up, since the 2023 Rugby World Cup stated that Bristol Bears’ Louis Rees-Zammit can match the wingers' intensity.

Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local Greene King sports pub.

Questioned on the Bordeaux Begles player, Francis added: "

“He’s having a great season playing for Bordeaux, and a bit like Zammo (Rees-Zammit) when he came through.

“If you come through a team that is doing well, it’s a bit easier. I think we have players with the potential of him (Bielle-Biarrey), and if we can start winning and put the performances in, it’s easier for them to go down their path.

“That’s our job as a team, to be that springboard for those individuals (like Rees-Zammit).

Fabien Galthie had named his side that will head to Principality Stadium on Thursday afternoon, as France carry on their hunt for their second consecutive Six Nations title. However, they face a Welsh side that has not won a match in the tournament since March 2023.

But from Francis, he’s been watching the demise of Welsh Rugby from the sidelines due to being left on the side by former head coach Warren Gatland. There was even talk about the prop retiring from international rugby with his move to the second division side in France.

He came as a surprise inclusion for Steve Tandy’s side, which was announced in January, and the tight-head expressed his excitement at being able to play rugby for Wales again. “I’ve missed it, it’s awesome to be back,” Francis added.

“It’s still a bit surreal. The first week was taking it all in, but I’ve found my feet, and the boys have got stuck into me a bit more this week.” However, since his last start for Wales against Argentina in the quarter-final of the 2023 World Cup, Wales have endured a torrid time with Francis saying it was tough watching from the sidelines.

“It’s never nice seeing your mates going through that and not being able to help,” he continued.

"I have a chance now to try and come back and help.

“As soon as Steve (Tandy) came in, I had conversations with him. It was always the case that if you need me and I’m still playing well enough, I am going to keep myself in shape to try and add to this team.”

It’s been no hidden secret that the turmoil surrounding Welsh rugby has conflicted with ticket sales of all Wales’ three home Six Nations matches.

There are also struggles at the regional level, but in the second division of French rugby, ticket sales are thriving with Francis revealing that Provence, home to former Welsh international George North as well, has had two-and-a-half years of sell-outs.

“It’s more of an entertainment in France”, added Francis, who will leave Provence to join Sale Sharks ahead of next season, alongside fellow Welshmen Nicky Smith from Leicester Tigers.

Returning to business in Wales, and it was a pretty grim reading of his side’s opening contest in the Six Nations, an agonising 48-7 defeat against England to kick off proceedings.

Fellow prop, Rhys Carré, stated that it was a one-off against the “old enemy”, as Wales need a better performance against France on Sunday afternoon.

“You never go out there to have a bad game or to put the game we put on last week,” Francis said.