Saints see Piers Francis as a 12

Technical coaching consultant Alan Gaffney says Northampton Saints now see Piers Francis as an inside centre, rather than a fly-half.

Francis has started at inside centre in his last two matches, having previously started in the fly-half position 11 times previously.

Gravesend-born Francis has worn the number 12 jersey for England before on the two-Test tour of Argentina last November.

"We've seen that Piers' favourite position is 12 over 10," Gaffney told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

"He probably would prefer the 12 position and we much prefer him there – we identified that very early in the piece but unfortunately with injuries and whatever it was at the time, we had to play him at 10 a few times.

"Now he's settled into the 12 spot and he's playing pretty well.

"He is a good defender.

"Piers is stepping up a lot more and taking more control.

"He knows the areas where we want him to develop."