Henson ends frustrating wait

2006-11-01 13:17

Cardiff - Wales international star Gavin Henson is aiming to put 18 months of frustration behind him when he takes the field against Australia on Saturday.

It will be the centre's first start for Wales since the Grand Slam-clinching victory over Ireland way back in March 2005.

Since that triumphant day at the Millennium Stadium, he endured a difficult Lions tour to New Zealand, underwent groin surgery and was then hit with a seven-week ban for elbowing Leicester prop Alex Moreno.

When he did return to action, Henson struggled to rediscover his form and then pulled out of Wales' summer tour to Argentina because he was "not there physically and not there mentally".

But he is now back playing regularly for the Ospreys - albeit at flyhalf rather than his Wales position of inside centre - and he is determined to make up for lost time in the Test arena.

"I am glad to be starting. It's massive. It is good to get back playing at the Millennium Stadium and actually starting for Wales again," Henson said.

"It has been about two years since I started for Wales and I am pretty excited.

"These type of games bring the best out of you. I have been in those situations before. I will probably be a bit nervous this time around because I have not had that much rugby under my belt.

"But I'm glad I got the Stade Francais game under my belt (for the Ospreys in the European Cup last weekend) because it is not too big a step from there to international rugby really."

Henson's inclusion at inside centre was something of a surprise given the early season form of Ospreys teammate James Hook and Llanelli Scarlets' Gavin Evans.

But he has the backing of new head coach Gareth Jenkins, who said: "We feel as if Gavin has been playing some good rugby and we feel confident and comfortable to give him the opportunity to prove to all of us he can make an impact in that position for us this season.

"He wants the opportunity. There is now serious competition behind him and that is good for all of us."

Henson returns from injury along with fellow Grand Slam heroes Ryan Jones, Kevin Morgan, Gareth Thomas and centre partner Tom Shanklin.

In all coach Jenkins will unleash 11 of the 2005 Grand Slam-winning side on Saturday.

"We are strong," said Jenkins. "We have got British Lion half-backs in Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel. Gavin was a British Lion last year and Tom is coming back from injury and has looked good for the Cardiff Blues.

"We have got Gareth Thomas and Shane Williams outside them and both are British Lions. We have a lot of talent on the park."

The only players due to start on Saturday who did not feature for in the Grand Slam campaign are locks Ian Evans and Ian Gough, hooker Matthew Rees and blindside flanker Jonathan Thomas.

- AFP