Their personalities are poles apart but Iain Henderson could be the ideal, eventual replacement for Paul O’Connell.
‘During your time out, injured’, Henderson was asked yesterday, ‘did you have any work-ons?’
‘Yep,’ he replied. ‘Fixing my hip, mostly.’
The Craigavon native has a quirky sense of humour and loves to throw in jokes, and slag teammates, during interviews. It is a departure from the serious, considered, gentlemanly O’Connell. Perhaps O’Connell joked as much as the Ulsterman when he was 23. Experience, injuries, joy, heartache and countless interviews can blunt your comic edge.
Now, O’Connell is 35, heading into his last World Cup but feted by the three-time European champions Toulon. Henderson has played a lot at blindside for Ulster in recent weeks but he is looked upon as a natural, bullish replacement for the Munster legend.
Henderson says he ‘prefers playing back row at the minute’. However, conscious of the ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ tag, he is happy to gain experience where he can. Henderson adds:
‘I wouldn’t say it is my decision [what position I play after O’Connell retires]. I would say it is the coach’s decision, if I’m being brutally honest. I don’t think Paul will be around for another five years anyway… well, I hope not. I’ll play where I am put and I’ll be happy with that.’
As for the Toulon links, Henderson remarks, ‘With Paul’s body the way it is at the moment, I don’t think he’d want Toulon torturing him in the French league, and with a full European season. Still, I’m sure he’ll consider all his options wisely.’
‘Extra roasties’
Henderson has been likened to retired Ulster and Ireland blindside Stephen Ferris as a game-changer. He is flattered by the comparisons and says he hopes to emulate the Maghaberry man on the pitch.
When it comes to the gym, however, he has a ways to go.
‘I don’t hold any of the [Ulster gym] records,’ he says. ‘Not yet anyway. In the last few seasons, Stevie and John Afoa were the boys holding all the records. Wiehahn Herbst has come in now and is definitely throwing a lot of tin around the gym.
‘The likes of Nick Williams, too. He will do whatever weight is on the bar, no matter what it is. He is a phenomenally strong guy but, no, I’m not there yet.’
Massive bench pull from @nick8williams your turn @stephenferris6 #heardit https://t.co/0uBR5xstyD
— Kevin Geary (@KevGeary) January 6, 2015
Henderson needs to consume over 3,500 calories on a daily basis [the average for Irish men is just under 2,500] to maintain his size, lean muscle and power. He admits, ‘I do not count calories an awful lot but I do eat an awful lot. I often find myself losing weight so I have to keep on as much weight as possible. That, combined with my gym [work], means I eat more than the average guy in the squad.
‘There’s nothing special I eat, just whatever I can get. I’m a bit of a hoover around the house.
‘When I go back to my parents house, my parents are always giving me an extra plate of dinner… A few extra roasties. I’m never going to refuse it.’
