henson back in the fold

im glad to see that the welsh management and coaches havent cut off their nose to spite their face. it could have been so easy for them to ignore this huge talent because he hasent played much rugby this year.

as with old 606 i expect all the henson hate to drop on this thread but it will (as with the old 606) mostly come from english posters, you know who you are.


henson and jd2 could become wales' most potent center pairing. dr bob has had his day in the center, maybe he should try and convert himself to a running fullback. the center belongs to henson.

I rated Henson as a player, I've seen him play a few times and he has the same ora about him that Dan Carter has when he has the ball, he makes it look easy and appears to have lots of time on the ball that some other players don't have, but there can't be any smoke without fire the guy has an ability to turn his team mates against him and rugby is a team game so for the good of the team Wales are better off without him IMO.

This isn’t a Wales v England thing I’d say the say thing about Cips, his a talented player which when his on form his a joy to watch (can’t defend agreed) but he disrupts the changing room in the same way, therefore I wouldn’t want him in my team.

dogtooth wrote:
as with old 606 i expect all the henson hate to drop on this thread but it will (as with the old 606) mostly come from english posters, you know who you are.

Dogtooth - not really sure that line was necessary! v2 is a chance of a new start so let's try not to bring any of the old 606 bad habits over here, so there's no need to mention them I wouldn't say.

Your point re: Davies and Henson in the centre. Yes they could be a very good pairing but I'm not sure the BaaBaa's game is going to be the place for us to see it. Both are severly lacking in game time at the moment. If they get a string of games together then maybe we'll be able to see what they can offer.

Well said RugbyDreamer

Old 606 has died move on.

...and you're kidding yourself if you think the Henjacking came solely or primarily from the English. Same goes for Cipriani.
Both players are marmite, theres plenty of people from any background ready to build them up or knock them down.


I'd love Henson to make a go of it. I think people delude themselves about him but it would be a nice story if the guy could rebuild his life and actually start playing decent rugby again. I'm certainly a Hensonsceptic in that I doubt he will make it back as a top NH player, but it doenst mean I wouldn't be happy to see him do it and grow into a better human being at the same time.

I would say that his selection smacks of desperation from Gatland, and perhaps the same element of living in the past that cost England badly with recalls or retaining players who'd lost the will to live post 2003.
It also make a point about the lack of player numbers available to Wales. Its going to be hard when you only have 4 teams playing at a high level and only have a limited supply of Safrican/NZ immigrants to bolster your squad.

Peter - I wouldn't say it smacks of desperation by Gatland. In this instance I can actually see why he has been picked. Roberts is being rested, Hook is getting married, Shanklin has had to retire. We only really have Bishop who's played there before, but Gatland already knows what he can do. The only other option we have really is young Scott Williams who is on the bench for this match. Gatland needs to see how Henson can play in this current Welsh team and I think the game on Saturday is the ideal opporunity for him to do it, I mean, when else could he?

Centre is a weak position in Welsh rugby, we can't afford to ignore Henson I don't think.

"when else could he?"

Never? Don't see Cirpriani on the England teamsheet.

"Centre is a weak position in Welsh rugby, we can't afford to ignore Henson I don't think. ."

Exactly, so you get desperate and ship around for anyone that might be abel to make a difference even if its a gamble. Whereas England can simply turn to rugby league and or SANZAR for a host of options at 12.

fair enough Peter!

I'm agnostic about Henson - his future is up to him and I frankly don't care. If he can demonstrate that he's the best 12 we have great, if not then someone else will be.

Only time will tell if he reaches his potential or if he's remembered as a wasted talent. I personaly doubt he has the fortitude to last and I expect him to self destruct again - but I don't mind if he proves me wrong.

My view on the BaaBaas game selection is the reverse of what I normally feel about Gatland.

Gatland generally has a very autocratic approach .... select a small but secure core of "loyal" players to build over 4 yrs to get to a WC. Unfortunately this doesnt aspire

1. competition within this small group (re Jon Thomas, Phillips, Byrne have played less than average for 2 yrs or more) or

2. motivation from outside as the chances of getting in are slim (Brew, Wayne Evans, Tovey, Jon Edwards)

However certain players have not been performing in their positions but still keep been selected ...... no names but now you find Mr G has had to drop them due to form or non availability and now has to select other players at a late stage, e.g. Bevington, North, Brew, Stoddart at FB etc. This has been the case with Henson who I am sure would have been playing before now if he has strung a few games together. So ok this can motivate and demotivate players within the core and outside of it.

But on this occasion gats has nothing to lose.

1. Hook, Roberts not available, Scott Williams a tad young but on the bench the only player to lose out is Bishop who I feel for.

2, Davies outside of Henson could be the missing link as they really could play well together

3. If Henson plays rubbish then you can dispose of him until he finds another club, province, region

So on this occasion I agree with Mr G.............. just

Don't know enough about who else might be pushing for a place but a Henson playing what he's actually capable of is worth a gamble. Depends on his motivation I would guess but at his best he was excellent. Always looked like he had plenty of time no matter how fast the game.

Davies looked good in the 6N so him and Henson might be a very good pairing in time.

He seems divisive though and rugby is the(?) ultimate team game. We'll see.

I'm English BTW .

rugbydreamer wrote:

Dogtooth - not really sure that line was necessary! v2 is a chance of a new start

if some wanted a new start why use '606' in the forum name?

sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it.

will this comment get me banned?

Dogtooth, no of course not, why would it?

Another Englishman looking in. Agree to an extent with others, his past performances alone justify the gamble in my opinion, the guy is / was class (remains to seen which one). However, we all know the effect he can have on the dressing room so if I was the Welsh Management I would have laid it on the line prior to his selection in this squad - It doesn't matter how well you play in the warm up games, any indiscretion whatsoever and your Wales career is over. He should be big enough and old enough now to be able to handle an ultimatum along those lines.

This really should be his last chance, but his talent alone means that for me he is worth that chance.

B91212 wrote: It doesn't matter how well you play in the warm up games, any indiscretion whatsoever and your Wales career is over. He should be big enough and old enough now to be able to handle an ultimatum along those lines.

I take it you missed the last 12 months then?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

B91212 wrote: It doesn't matter how well you play in the warm up games, any indiscretion whatsoever and your Wales career is over. He should be big enough and old enough now to be able to handle an ultimatum along those lines.

I take it you missed the last 12 months then?

Really, he's not been a model professional during the last twelve months then? Just goes to show how out of the loop I am on this side of the Atlantic

Lets be honest the only reason Gavin Henson is playing against the BaBaas, is because Warren Gatland sees Henson as an answer to evry thing that is wrong with Welsh Rugby.

It is alright Rob Howley coming out ans say that (GAVIN)As been ther done it and got the tea shirt.
But lets face it Gavin Henson as not done anything in the last 18months or so....So how does Howley know that Gavin Henson can still do it?

Henson will put a few thousand more bums on seats.
Lets face it we are too small a country to chuck players on the scrapheap we need as much depth in every position as we possibly can for the forthcoming world cup.
Give him a chance to show us if he still has it and if he does then Wales will be a far better side with him involved in it.

rugbydreamer wrote:Dogtooth, no of course not, why would it?

because i'm being a curmudgeonly old sod.

back on topic. henson will be great. the 50:50 split in wales will sway ever so slightly in his favour after saturday. i predict he will have a great game.

dogtooth wrote: henson will be great. the 50:50 split in wales will sway ever so slightly in his favour after saturday. i predict he will have a great game.

i wqas wrong

To be honest, regarding Henson's performance it was exactly what anybody would of and should fo expected. He was never going to be outstanding, but he needed to find his feet, and he did show glimpses of what he could do for us. His comments on his own performance were extremely fair and it's good to see he can evaluate himself and realises when he's made mistakes. I hope he does get more game time, if not for Wales this summer, then for a region next season, as he could get back to his best, anybody who expected a flawless performance is just a fool.

All the more reason for a Wales A team, really.