Hensons inclusion - your thoughts please

First topic message reminder :

There is already a Wales squad announcement thread elsewhere but the obvious name that is going to get people talking is the inclusion of Gavin Henson.

I was talking to Ian Gough about it on Twitter and he asked what the general reaction to it was.

AS opposed to turning the squad thread into a Henson debate, I thought I would single him out for discussion on here.

So I would like to know your thoughts on his inclusion and his playing career generally.

For me, I think he gets an unbelievably hard time - yes he has done a few reality shows but he isnt a rebel rouser so to speak. He has wasted a lot of his playing career but I would still have him in my squad. The Henson Haters (c) seem to be those who are jealous of his exposure. Its not his fault he gets picked. He got into the squad due to talent and although he has been injured over the last few years, his pre World Cup match where he sustained the wrist injury, was showing that he still has it.

Unfair to pick him over some talents but its about the strength of the squad and the versatility of the players in it. He ticks those boxes and deserves a chance to prove himself in my books.

So lets hear why I am wrong (or hopefully why I am right!). Henson ......discuss!

You can't deny he's a big game player. He has so much time on the ball and is so cool, too cool sometimes in domestic rugby. He is a playmaking centre, something we haven't got otherwise (except in the form if Beck who's unlikely to start in Dublin) and a better full back than Byrne. I'd have been cross if he wasn't excluded. People bang on about club form, what was Gareth Edwards' club form like? Talk about being wrapped up in cotton wool, he hardly played for Cardiff between Christmas and the end of March! Why should we not take advantage of Henson's abundant talent? He is a double GS winner. Losing Shane and Henson would leave our back line cupboard pretty bare.

So are people slating Henosn or Gatland here.

Henson has been asked/selected to represent his Country, should he have said No thank you there are better people than me out there - Would any of us said that.

People are saying that he doesn't deserve a contract at the Blues and that it is a slap in the face to all the young talent - The Blues offered HIM the contract,should he have said No thank you there are better people than me out there - Would any of us said that.

People say Gatland should pick on form well if thats the case this should be the team for the Ireland game:

D Jones
T R Thomas
A Jones
A Jones
R Jones
Shingler
Faletau
Tipuric

Peel
Priestland

Halfpenny
Beck
Hughes
Cuthbert

Williams

Would people honestly be happy with that side going up against Ireland? Coaches have to take a punt that players who may not be playing well for Region come good in the National set up and of late they have been doing

Well Bedford mate

Looks a little inexperienced doesn't it...!

Pertinent point made.

Mornin maes,

Thats what I mean you can't just pick a team entirely on form you have to hope (has as been proved) that players such as Jenkins, Bennett (WC form), Warburton, Phillips and Roberts produce the form we know they have once in the Welsh set up.

If they do then it obviously raises the question that why can't Regional coaches get best out of them but thats a whole new thread on its own

Exactly Bedford, Henson doesn't need club form he has proven international class. Just get him in there and shut the naysayers up.

Just had a quick skim through the post.

Who is the young talented centre that has been wronged by Henson's inclusion?

Which player has been playing week in week out at 12, doing the business, and has been omitted as a result of Henson's inclusion?

fEs,

Exactly, none really. Some could say (and I am Dragons fan) that Adam Hughes may feel bit aggreaved but our form has counted against I think and for me I am hoping he gets a nod for the summer tour.

Someone said that Sweeney and Barry Davies should be in the squad ahead of Henson...
Good thing that fool isn't coach.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Mornin maes,

Thats what I mean you can't just pick a team entirely on form you have to hope (has as been proved) that players such as Jenkins, Bennett (WC form), Warburton, Phillips and Roberts produce the form we know they have once in the Welsh set up.

If they do then it obviously raises the question that why can't Regional coaches get best out of them but thats a whole new thread on its own

Its all about building competition within the squad and almost more importantly within the clubs and regions. The better the quality of rugby, the harder it is to get a position and the tougher the players have to push themselves to succeed.

bedfordwelsh wrote:fEs,

Exactly, none really. Some could say (and I am Dragons fan) that Adam Hughes may feel bit aggreaved but our form has counted against I think and for me I am hoping he gets a nod for the summer tour.

That's what I thought. Henson or Adam Hughes? Gatland must have considered that question in real depth before deciding that Henson on a bad day, injured, painted particularly orange, receiving the silent treatment from all of his team mates and simultaneously appearing on reality TV whilst drunk was a better bet than Adam Hughes.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:fEs,

Exactly, none really. Some could say (and I am Dragons fan) that Adam Hughes may feel bit aggreaved but our form has counted against I think and for me I am hoping he gets a nod for the summer tour.

That's what I thought. Henson or Adam Hughes? Gatland must have considered that question in real depth before deciding that Henson on a bad day, injured, painted particularly orange, receiving the silent treatment from all of his team mates and simultaneously appearing on reality TV whilst drunk was a better bet than Adam Hughes.

fEs,

I wouldn't go quite that far as Hughes is a very good centre and hopefully will be given the chance to prove it at the top level but he's taken a gamble on Henson who has proved it at top level. And like I said this is only a training squad.

I know, I was being harsh to emphasise the point. Gatland has included Henson in the training squad to take a look. With JD2, Roberts, Williams, Beck and Hook also in the squad there are plenty of options at centre.

Adam Hughes, if selected, would only be included for the sake of getting some experience, realistically he isn't going to make the final squad.

Henson on the other hand, were he to impress in training and get himself super fit in the Polish freezers could offer something to the squad. If he doesn't, and fails to gel with the squad and causes trouble, then I'm 100% certain Gatland will sling him out on his ear. In fact that may well be the plan (to cut him), and Gatland may well feel that this is a good chance to get Henson into the training camp, see how he gets on with the squad and with the training and then involve him later in the 6 Nations if injuries to other players require it - then Gatland will at least know that he's fit and ready, and familiar with the squad and the regime.

Because it's Henson there seems to be a lot being made of this. Personally I don't think it's a controversial decision at all.

sorry, but i dont get this "slap in the face" thing of the young centres/fullbacks in wales who now havent been selected because of Henson.

well, Sc.Williams and Beck got chosen, so thats the 2 young welsh centres, and halfpenny/liam williams got picked too, so thats 2 young welsh fullbacks.

so, who's being slapped in the face? you can work hard all season long, good, you're getting paid too, you should anyway, being picked for your national side is an honour, and generally means you are one of the best in your country in your position, not because you're a hard-worker.

any player who feels "slapped in the face" by hensons selection should look at themselves in the mirror, cause its another player who's been working hard all season thats been selected above them.

lastly, i dont think henson should be there, i agree with what Dogtooth has said, he should have been at the blues with the opportunity of gametime whilst Roberts/Halfpenny were away. I'd have liked to have seen him selected on the summer tour (injury/form permitting).

Yes! Keep him for the meaningless games when we've lately lost out on two years from him and he's not getting any younger!

No but he is in good shape and has not been battered and bruised for two years so likely to last longer than most... Could be still useful at 35 instead of finished at 32 like most.

He seems to live a healthy lifestyle and he looks after his body very well so i can't see why not.

except for the nights out of binge drinking gowales...

and although he hasn't been battered or pushed to his body's limited for the last 2 years so that should mean he can play on for longer, on the other side his body does seem very injury prone and maybe even brittle, this could mean that any benefits from him not playing/resting for 2 years disappear with niggling injuries.

I think if Wales want to include Tango then good luck to them frankly. As many have already stated, Henson has performed very well on the international stage before and could well do so again. With no one particularly missing out as a result, why not take the chance to look at him?

From an English point of view I do find it odd that some people treat him as a deity. From the performances i've seen since his sab, there has been nothing to demonstrate he has the magic back. Yes he looked ok during the warm up matches, but other than that zilch.

What would concern me most if he were English, is his mental state of mind. He's behaved pretty erratically over the past few years, and doesn't seem to know what he wants or where his future lies. At international level, if he gets a game or two, that fragility would really worry me. He may look as cool as a Polar Bear who's just started an ice cream factory, but his conduct belies a very different tale.

Let the coach decide if he thinks he can contribute something to the cause, and then let Henson answer his critics on the field. He and Gatland know it's as simple as that. Words won't tell us a thing.

Henson has ability - rugby playing ability; it's his mind that has been the precious thing and in more ways than one, halted his playing career. In truth it might be all over for him but, also, he has one more chance to prove himself. The proving will be done behind closed doors - for Gatland and coaches at training - he could possibly be the big 'rebirth' name of the year. Who knows? We'll soon find out