Welsh star Henson left ‘devastated’ by Test snub

GAVIN HENSON has spoken of his Lions Test team heartache and admitted: “I am absolutely devastated.”

While the Lions’ likely Test 22 remained in Christchurch ahead of Saturday’s showdown with the All Blacks, Welsh Grand Slam star Henson was summoned to southern outpost Invercargill for this morning’s meeting with Southland.

The Welsh centre found an ally in the shape of All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter, who confessed his surprise at Henson’s first Test omission.

“When Clive [Woodward] read out the team for the Southland game, I was absolutely devastated,” said the 23-year-old Welshman.

“It was really hard to take in because I really thought I had a chance of making the Test side, or at least the 22 so to be told I wasn’t involved came as such a shock. I take my game very seriously, and this will take me a while to get over. I didn’t sleep well last night. At least I have a game now which will help me get it out of my system.”

He added: “I had a proper chat with Clive, and he told me he doesn’t have a problem with the way I am playing - he just wanted to go with experience for the Test.”

Carter said: “I was a bit surprised to see Henson left out of the squad. He had a great Six Nations with Wales, he played really well, so I was quite surprised to see him selected to play against Southland.”

Feared tactician and code-breaker Scott Johnson has joined the Lions and will be stalking the sideline during the first test with the All Blacks, Woodward promised yesterday.

“He will be wired for sound, he will be part of our medical team, he will be taking over as a water-carrier from Neil Back,” the coach added.

The Australian roamed the sidelines for the Wallabies during their 2001 home series, picking up some tactical intelligence against the Lions.

After one evesdropping session during an earlier tour match, Johnson was able to decipher the Lions’ lineouts well enough to allow Justin Harrison to steal a late Lions lineout throw and save the third Test and the series.