What a difference a try makes.
It almost seems crazy to believe that, 10 days ago, there were still large, emboldened question marks over Robbie Henshaw’s suitability as a Test centre.
The Connacht back was deemed Brian O’Driscoll’s heir but, solid defence and tactical kicking aside, had not quelled doubts from quarters near and far. George Hook expressed his doubts, following the Italy game, and Evening Standard journalist Chris Jones said the Irish midfield would be exposed against England.
On March 1, it was Henshaw that helped expose England’s Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph. While he was at it, he exposed Alex Goode under a high ball to score a try. While he was also at it, he made nine carries, 13 tackles, won a kickable penalty and took home the man-of-the-match accolade.
We met Henshaw at Carton House, this afternoon, and found him in the most relaxed form he has been since entering the senior Irish camp in 2013.
‘The England game has helped [my confidence] quite a bit,’ he says. ‘I’m constantly learning growing into it more and more and getting more confident with every game. Especially with Jared Payne and Johnny Sexton, outside and inside. We’re building up a good relationship and looking to build on our recent performances.’
His try against the English was his first at Test level and should, for at least one game, take the focus off the Irish backline and their chance conversion rate. Henshaw says, ‘It was pretty surreal. Just thinking about it afterwards, I was in the moment, I didn’t really think about it too much because I was there to do a job and someone had to step up to do it.
‘It was a good feeling afterwards, but I have parked it now. It is a good memory for me and one that will be there for a good while. It’s on to Wales this week and that’s the focus.’
Should they be selected together for Saturday, Henshaw and Payne will form the Irish midfield for a fifth time. The 21-year-old is a close companion of the New Zealander but says Joe Schmidt has not gone as far as rooming them together. Yet. Henshaw says:
‘We spend quite a bit of time together, going over plays and looking at video footage of opposition teams, and our our own training runs and things we have done in training. We play quite a few card games and chat over a coffee.’
One imagines most of their chat will revolve around the Welsh centre pairing of Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts, and ways they can puncture the Welsh defence.
Henshaw comments, ‘Wales are very direct. They run decoy lines with Roberts coming in and them throwing it out the back. It is going to test us, big time. We just have to be prepared and stay connected in defence, and keep our communication up all day. It is going to be one of the biggest tests for us.’
He adds, ‘Their centre partnership is up there with one of the best in the world. They have a really physical threat coming at us, massive size in Robert coming down that 10-12 channel.
‘Davies is another good ball player and direct runner. They are going to test us this weekend but we’re fully prepared for what they’re going to throw at us.’
