Henson seeks Wales recall after winning return
Gavin Henson is desperate to start for Saracens in a bid to regain
his Wales spot after marking his return from 21 months out of action by
coming off the bench in Saracens’ 13-6 Premiership win over Wasps.
Wales begin their Six Nations campaign at home to England on February
4 and national coach Warren Gatland is set to name his squad for the
tournament next month after the January round of European Cup matches.
That leaves 28-year-old Henson, capped 31 times by Wales, with little
time to impress Gatland and the midfielder believes he must start soon
in his favoured position of inside centre if he is to force his way back
into Test contention.
“The reason I got back into rugby was to play for my country. I would
love to do it in the Six Nations but time is running out,” said Henson
after a win for Saracens at Wembley on Sunday that left his club second
in the table.
“I need to start a game of rugby and at 12 as well. I wouldn’t have
thought Wales are looking at me at 13. If anything, they are looking at
me at 12.
“(The England game) is my target. I would like to get at least one
game under my belt (before the squad announcement) and I just have to do
everything I can in training so Saracens will hopefully start me.
“I felt pretty good out there. I didn’t feel like I had been out for
21 months. I just need a bit more time out there and a bit more time
with the ball in my hands hopefully.
“I was at 13 and I have never really played there before. I think I
prefer 12. I can get my hands on the ball a lot more.”
Saracens coach Mark McCall said Henson was set to be involved against
Sale next weekend but said he would most likely feature at 13 with Brad
Barritt still his first-choice centre.
“Brad Barritt is an outstanding 12. He is having a great season so we
are in no rush to move Brad anywhere,” said McCall.
“Gavin is finding his feet at the moment. He is getting to know our
systems. We are not going to rush him too much.
“I am not sure where he will end up for our club. I think 12 is his
best position but he showed today he is more than capable of playing
13.” Henson had not played since an Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final
appearance for the Ospreys back in March 2009.
His rugby career was in crisis when he took six months unpaid leave
from the Welsh regional side and Henson’s private life was then plunged
into turmoil following the break-up of his relationship with singer
Charlotte Church.
It seemed Henson was settling for life on the celebrity circuit with
appearances in British television shows 71 Degrees North and Strictly
Come Dancing.
But he insisted he wanted to play again and Saracens took a
calculated gamble on Henson by offering him a contract until the end of
this season.
Henson nearly made a fairytale comeback just minutes after coming off
the bench when he intercepted a loose pass only for Wasps’ Joe Simpson
to hold him up after the British and Irish Lion had crossed the line and
prevent the Welshman grounding the ball for a try. Shaun Edwards, Wasps
assistant coach and Wales defence coach, was impressed by Henson’s
return. “He looked pretty sharp, didn’t he? Fair play to him. You always
want world-class players like that, particularly from a Welsh angle.”
LONDON, Dec 27, 2010, AFP |