Henson not just a pretty face
2008-02-14 09:06
Cardiff - New Wales coach Warren Gatland has paid tribute to the role Gavin Henson has played in putting his side in sight of glory in this year's Six Nations, describing the glamour boy of Welsh rugby as a potential world beater.
Back-to-back victories over England and Scotland have got Gatland's reign off to a perfect start and the New Zealander has appreciated the contribution of a player who had been sidelined under former coach Gareth Jenkins and missed out on last year's World Cup.
"Gavin has been fantastic in our first two games but I spoke with him at the weekend and told him that I still feel there's another level in him," Gatland revealed.
"I said to him: 'You can be not just the best player in the northern hemisphere in your position, but the best inside centre in the world'.
"He's big, he's strong and he has fantastic skills, he is quick and he can defend. He has everything you are looking for in a midfield player."
Henson's relationship with the singer/television presenter Charlotte Church and his fondness for fake tan, waxing and hair gel have always helped him maintain a high-profile, which has arguably resulted in his ability being under-estimated.
Introverted
Gatland admits Henson is not yet the finished article but sees no reason why he should not develop into a player with the standing of someone like Australia's Matt Giteau.
"Gavin's a touch quiet off the field and introverted," Gatland said. "I don't care what he's like off the field but we would like him to be more extroverted on the field.
"We are trying to encourage him to talk more and take responsibility. We'd like him to kick a bit more and are encouraging him to step up to first receiver.
"But I am delighted with where he is in terms of his game."
Perhaps because of his obsession with appearance, it has often been suggested that Henson was not too keen on doing the ugly work required when he and his team-mates are under pressure.
Gatland however regards that critique as unfair, highlighting Henson's performance against Scotland last weekend as evidence of his all-round, often unseen, contribution.
"Coaches have the luxury of going back and watching a game on video nowadays, and I thought Gavin's performance against Scotland, in terms of how hard he worked, was magnificent," the coach argued.
"He created the first try by working his butt off to create the extra pair of hands we needed to put Lee Byrne through the hole. It's not just Gavin's work around the ball that you have to take into account, it's his work off the ball.
"He chases and kicks harder than anyone else, he works overtime to get back to support when the opposition boot the ball to us and he works hard to help us with the pattern we are trying to create."