Thoughts on Henson

He has obviously just been named in the Wales squad for the Baa Baas but do you think he should be or will indeed make the World Cup squad.

If he does, will he play?

Can't imagine he will go to the World Cup given he has had practically no games recently. It would be a travesty if he was excluded at the expense of an up and coming player. He would have to have an absolute stormer though to be considered.

There is just something about him though for me.

I know he is a "good luck charm" for Wales but whenever he plays, we just look a better team.

I dont think he will play this weekend either but I hope he does, has a blinder and then makes the squad. He is still good enough to make a difference for Wales.

If he wasn't good enough to be considered for the Six Nations though, what has he done since to merit his inclusion? If there were a few injuries I could see your point, but until then I wouldn't expect him to have a chance.

I don't know how much effect he truly has had on Wales when he plays, but I know it is perceived that he makes the team better. But at the moment, when he surely can't be match fit or match sharp, I don't see how he can live up to his hype.

I dont disagree with anything you have said.

Its just that I get the feeling that he has that something about him that may just appear at the vital time.

I personally would take the risk with him in the squad and then play him against one of the lowly teams in the pool matches (which we generally lose to...thank you very much Fiji!)

If the squad was larger, he might be worth a punt, but the trouble as I see it is that you can only take 3 or 4 centres, so if he doesn't play well, you haven't many options.

Hensons selection just highlights the paucity of talent in the centre at the moment. With SHanklin retiring and Roberts having very little impact recently we are low on options.

Anyway as I'm going to the BaBas game I wonder how the crowd will react when (if) he trundles off the bench! I won't know wether to cheer or weep!

Gatland loves him and believes he can keep a reign on his excesses in a closed squad on tour situation.

Loki, take that cushion with you, you'll need it for jumping up and down, as the rest traipse for the beer.
Henson is Gatland's saviour, with him he thinks Wales could have a decent WC, without he gives us very little chance.

Henson is infuriating - talent to burn but a lack of discipline/motivation on top of a cruel string of injuries have seen him making all the wrong type of headlines.

I fully expect him to play a part in the upcoming series of games - Gatland wouldnt pick him if he didn't intend to play him. If he plays only half decently, I expect hime to be at the WC too.

It is a high risk strategy, but Henson does have the talent to spark the Welsh game. If we play as we are now we MIGHT make the QF, thats as much as Gatland can hope for, if the Henson gamble works, we could possibly do better.

Gatland (and Howley) desperately need to get the backs firing and they see Henson as the ONLY way to do that.

Ospreylian - ha, I'm fairly relaxed when it comes to getting up and down, or at least try to be! Especially with kids, the small bladders aren't their fault!

A couple of years ago I got stuck next to a clearly alcohol dependent couple for one of the cheaper autumn internationals.

I spent the whole first half next to this stinking hag and went for a pint at half time.

On returning she told me that I was sitting in someone's seat! Yeh, I said, mine.
The pished crone got more and more "excited" until we had quite an audience!

Eventually she gave in, but I was fairly embarrassed!