'I was up on the seat' - Lion Henshaw chomping at bit after missing NZ game
Robbie Henshaw says Ireland’s players are being driven by intense competition and demands to replicate the stunning display against New Zealand.
Centre Henshaw is poised to return to action for the first time since his summer involvement with the British and Irish Lions when Argentina visit Dublin on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, who has overcome a niggly foot injury sustained in training at Leinster, watched last weekend’s statement 29-20 success over the All Blacks from the Aviva Stadium stands.
He seemed set to miss out on any meaningful action this autumn but is ready to help maintain his country’s high standards having been afforded a starting opportunity against Los Pumas because fellow Lion Bundee Aki is nursing a couple of knocks.
“Competition has definitely increased, I think everyone is playing great stuff for the provinces and in the green shirt,” said Henshaw.
“It is a huge driver for performance within the squad, certainly for me personally; you need competition there to keep you on your toes and keep you trying to stay ahead.
“Definitely the talent we have in the squad is huge and it’s an exciting time for us.”
Speaking of the All Blacks game, he continued: “That’s the standard we can produce when we’re on.
“I think that’s the expectation from us as players, that we’re expected to play like that every time we take the field, and the coaches expect us to play like that every time.
“Things aren’t perfect all the time but the last two weeks have been unbelievable, really clinical and accurate.
“The camp is good, two really good performances back-to-back so, I suppose, there’s big pressure on us now to make it three in a row and three really good performances.”
Ireland celebrated their greatest win of the Andy Farrell era so far after a scintillating showing against New Zealand.
Tries from James Lowe, Ronan Kelleher and Caelan Doris helped make it seven wins in a row for the Irish after 2021 began with the disappointment of their Six Nations title aspirations being wiped out inside two rounds.
Henshaw believes the team have been threatening a performance like that for a while.
“It was tough not to be involved but the standard was incredible to watch and it was definitely a memorable day for me just to see the performance as a whole,” he said
“To put it up to the number one team in the world, it was a special performance and one that’s definitely been on the horizon for a long time.
“We saw snippets of it in in the English performance in the last game of the Six Nations and it’s just been a step up from there since.
“It was brilliant and it was great to be there to watch it. I am a nervous fan as I’m not in control but there was unbelievable excitement when Caelan Doris went over for his try – I was up on the seat.”
Henshaw played every minute of the Lions’ three Tests in South Africa and believes the experience will be beneficial for the future.
“I was delighted to get three Test caps, three starts – it was probably top of my list in terms of goals at the start of last year,” he said.
“I was delighted to get that experience, definitely learned a lot from it and will certainly take it forward into the future in my career.
“It was a great group of lads and probably more enjoyable tour than the 2017 one.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
91 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
91 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
2 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
91 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
91 Go to comments