Franks has joined Glenn Delaney’s back-room team as scrum coach in Llanelli after bringing down the curtain on his playing career with English side Northampton Saints.
He is now joined at Parc y Scarlets by Wales front row forwards Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias and Samson Lee and hopes to pass some of his knowledge on to them.
Tighthead prop Lee has had his struggles with injury and missed the 2019 Rugby World Cup, but Franks said: “I definitely think I can help Samson get better.
“I’ve come in with a clean slate and I think it’s a clean slate for Samson as well. Samson looks really good in training and there is no doubt he’s an excellent scrummager.
“It’s about keeping fit and showing it in games. From what I’ve seen of him he looks like an international prop and I’m keen to help him get back to that level.
I’ve come in with a clean slate and I think it’s a clean slate for Samson as well. Samson looks really good in training and there is no doubt he’s an excellent scrummager
“I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes on the field of play now because it’s got to a point where you’re training so much you just need to play.
“I can see it in his eyes and the other players that they just need a game now.
“I know from past experience how tough it is coming back from injuries, but the best thing for him is to get a good run of games under his belt. If he can do that, then his talent will show because that wouldn’t have gone anywhere.”
Ben Franks casts his eye over his new Scarlets players
Franks is confident the Scarlets scrum can become a weapon over the coming seasons as Guinness PRO14 action gets set to return this weekend.
The Scarlets host Cardiff Blues in Llanelli in the first Welsh action since lockdown.
“We’ve got a good mixture of experience and youth in the front row. We’ve got Ken at one end and on the other end we’ve got some really talented academy kids,” said Franks.
We’ve got a good mixture of experience and youth in the front row
“It’s a good opportunity for the young guys to learn and for me to listen to the older guys to see what they need.
“For me learning was always motivating so if they are excited about learning and excited about the scrum sessions then that will help them improve.
“I’ve loved working with them so far. It’s not about me, it’s about what those guys want to do because they are the ones on the field and they are the ones who have got to execute it.”
Franks scores a try for New Zealand against Ireland in 2013
Franks continued: “It’s good to be part of a group where there is a good mix of experience and youth.
“There are a lot of quality players in the Scarlets pack, but the actual strength of the scrum is not about individual players – it’s about working as an eight. That’s the toughest thing.
“You can take players out individually and help them work on areas where they can improve on, but getting them to work collectively as a pack is the real key to success. So that’s what we’ve been trying to spend a lot of time on.
“The thing with scrums is that sometimes it just takes time. There are combinations of working with guys and as an eight. Confidence is also a big part of a successful scrum. There is no magic formula.
“Over a number of games building some confidence can bring a scrum forward a long way. I’d like to think I can help them but I know it’s a process.”
Ben Franks
In an illustrious playing career Franks won 47 caps for New Zealand and lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup on two occasions.
He insists he couldn’t have picked a better place to begin his coaching career than in Llanelli alongside fellow New Zealander Delaney.
I knew Scarlets are a good club. They have a lot of talented players and a great history so to be part of that was appealing
He said: “It was a good opportunity for me. I announced my retirement quite early before the lockdown and then on the first weekend I got a call from Glenn.
“It was too good an opportunity for me to turn down. I’ve worked with Glenn before so I knew he’d be someone who I could work with while he’s also someone who could challenge me.
“I knew Scarlets are a good club. They have a lot of talented players and a great history so to be part of that was appealing.
“Also me and my family are small town people and now we live in Hendy it fits us to a tee. It ticked all the boxes for me both professionally and family wise.”
