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'I know what I would do': Rob Henderson wades into Lions centre debate
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Rob Henderson knows all about the benefits of picking a proven centre combination for the first Test of a British and Irish Lions series with the Wallabies after forming a formidable double act with Brian O’Driscoll in 2001.
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As the Lions hurtle towards their opening Test of the 2025 series with the Wallabies, the debate over who should be the centre combination rages, made more complicated by the concussion that has ruled Garry Ringrose out of contention.
The Ireland duo of Bundee Aki and Ringrose looked to be nailed on to be the Lions’ first Test centre pairing before news of Ringrose’s concussion suffered in the win over the Brumbies emerged.
As a result, Aki could now miss out altogether on a place in the 23, with the ‘Huwipulotu’ combination of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu favourite to create an all-Scottish midfield with Finn Russell, the mercurial outside-half.
Their game-time together, both for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland, could be vital against the expected Wallabies unit of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Henderson, like Aki and Tuipulotu, delivered the physical threat in the Lions midfield and while the debate revolves around proven combinations, the former London Wasps and Munster centre is adamant only form should be the criteria.
That is why Henderson chose Aki and Jones to be the first Test centres when RugbyPass caught up with him just before the hard-running centre headed to Brisbane alongside former Wales captain Ken Owens, working with Gullivers Sports Travel.
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Henderson said: “This whole thing about combinations is great but I don’t think it is relevant. I know what I would be doing and that is Jamison Gibson-Park at 9, Finn Russell – who is box office – at 10 and Bundee Aki to start at 12 and Huw Jones at 13 because he has played himself into a Test spot.
“The difference between Aki and Tuipulotu is that you will get an unbelievably aggressive 60 mins out of Aki without question. He and Tuipulotu are both big strong ball-carrying 12s but Aki edges it. When the game opens up then Tuipulotu has slightly better feet and hands so you bring him on to accelerate the game. I don’t think you could do it the other way around.
“When Garry Ringrose is back then let’s see what markers have been put down in the first Test. Attacking-wise Jones might edge it in terms of line breaks but Ringrose is the more complete package. Jones is marginally better going forward and Ringrose marginally better in defence. They are four great players and the Australians are going to have to step up to the mark or it will be a very difficult game for them.
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“If you have a great partnership then pick them but it has to be form and it’s as simple as that for me. What I do know is that whoever is opposite Aki in the Wallabies centre is in for a very tough afternoon.”
Henderson formed a potent midfield partnership with O’Driscoll as the Lions delivered a stunning 29-13 First Test success at Brisbane.
Henderson played an unusual role in creating one of the most famous Lions tries, scored by his centre partner O’Driscoll. It was the try that signalled O’Driscoll’s arrival as a world star as he received the ball 10m inside his own half and sliced through the Wallaby defence with pace and footwork, finishing under the posts.
So where was Henderson? “When Iain Balshaw took the ball into contact on the left wing, a maul was set up and I joined in, taking the ball from Richard Hill and just kept pumping my legs.
“In the movie Any Given Sunday, Al Pacino gives an unbelievable speech and he says ‘this game is all about inches and who wants to win those inches’. If we hadn’t won those two inches when I hit that maul then Drico would never have scored that try! It’s the unseen work.”
Like the current tour, the Lions in 2001 had another proven Test partnership that could have been chosen for the Tests, with Mike Catt and Will Greenwood of England in head coach Graham Henry’s squad.
“I was lucky enough to start all three Tests, which was special when you look at the competition in the centres as we also had Mike Catt and Will Greenwood, the first-choice England pairing,” added Henderson. “In the warm-up games I was in good form and scored four tries.”
Henderson and the 2001 Lions suffered an agonising 29-23 Third Test loss in Sydney that meant they fell 2-1 in a series that left him with a serious knee injury, which delayed his debut for Munster after his move from London.
The Brisbane victory was the first time the sea of red, produced by the thousands of travelling fans, was seen and it will be similar on Saturday with Henderson now part of the crowd. “It was amazing that in a crowd of 50,000 for that match in 2001 I managed to spot some of my mates in the front row and it was brilliant,” said Henderson.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t finish it off with a series win but I went out again in 2013 to see the first Test and so this is the third time for an opening Test of a series in Australia and let’s hope we can keep a winning run going.”
