If there ever was a moment when the loss of Paul O’Connell to the Irish rugby cause did not mean utter disaster then we might just have struck it lucky.
Make no mistake, the injury suffered by the Munster legend is a huge blow to Ireland’s hopes of finally progressing beyond the World Cup quarter-finals, but in Iain Henderson it appears we have at last a successor worthy of filling the great man’s boots, physically at least.
The emotional lift provided by O’Connell cannot be replicated, nor would it be fair to ask a 24-year-old to try, but Rory Best, Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy have been to enough rodeos to pick up the slack on that front, allowing Henderson to concentrate on continuing his phenomenal run of form.
It has been a mighty introduction to World Cup rugby for the Ulster tyro. Long touted as a future Ireland star, this World Cup has arrived at the perfect time for the Henderson to fully announce his credentials to the rugby world.
Okay, so Canada weren’t exactly the fiercest opposition, but Henderson’s performance on his World Cup debut was confirmation of the arrival of a top-class international loose forward.
He had staked his claim to start Ireland’s opening game with a pair of belligerent displays in warm-up matches against Wales and could count himself unlucky to lose out to Devin Toner when the starting XVs were announced for Italy and France, but his superb 40-minute appearance yesterday showed he will not wilt in the hottest of furnaces.
Now, though, it is that pair that will be asked to be the engine that powers the well-oiled machine that is the Irish pack.
Henderson has already begun creating that similar ripple of excitement whenever he gets hold of the ball. His dynamic game has been on full display during the World Cup and along with Sean O’Brien he has been Ireland’s most reliable source of forward yards.
He revs up and hits the ball at pace and each carry is laced with menace – when he collected the ball five yards out against Canada it was just a matter of how many defenders he would barrel through in the act of scoring (Answer: Three).
But, much as those charges ignite the side, it’s in the rest of his work where Henderson has grown into a potential future leader of this Irish side.
Ireland’s lineout has been imperious thus far, and while the giant Toner’s ability at the set piece may have swung selection his way initially, it was Henderson’s steal of French ball that was the catalyst for Ireland’s opening try at the Millennium Stadium.
His tackling is first rate – witness the powerful stop and drive back of French flanker Bernard Le Roux that evoked memories of Stephen Ferris, Will Genia and Ireland’s last great World Cup victory – while his ability at the breakdown gives Ireland the luxury of effectively having four back-rows on the field.
O’Connell’s loss will sting, of that there is no doubt, but for the first time Irish fans can look ahead knowing that in the absence of the Munster master, there is an apprentice ready to step into the void.
