CONTROVERSIAL RUGBY PUNDIT Neil Francis has defended his recent comments about Welsh coach Warren Gatland following a backlash.

The Western Mail was particularly scathing, suggesting the remarks were “an embarrassment,” after Francis wrote, in his Irish Independent column, that Gatland had the “intellectual properties of a tub of flora”.

Speaking on The Last Word earlier, Francis described the Gatland comments as “a throwaway line” and also pointed out that he tipped a possible Wales win.

“[I wrote that] Ireland are there for the taking and if Gatland gets his strategy right, Wales will win on Saturday.”

Elaborating on his most infamous comment, he acknowledged it was “probably a personal attack” and added:

“Normally he says something stupid, be hadn’t this time, so I said ‘I expect Gatland to pull something out of the bag to unsettle Ireland.’

“A few years ago, he said of all the teams, the Welsh hate the Irish the most

“There were 10 Welsh players in the Lions. I called it nepotism and I think I’m right.

“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.”

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