Henson: time right to topple English chariot
Wales have not toppled their fierce rivals in Cardiff since 1993, when Ieuan Evans famously caught Rory Underwood napping to score the match-winning try.
But Henson, who had just celebrated his 11th birthday the last time England left Cardiff empty-handed, believes February 5, 2005, could become a red-letter day etched into Welsh rugby folklore.
Since that famous triumph 12 years ago, Wales have been on the receiving end of some thumping defeats, run over by an English chariot that clocked up victories such as 34-13 (1997), 44-15 (2001) and 43-9 (2003).
Payback time is long overdue, and if Wales are to blow the RBS 6 Nations Championship title race wide open on day one, then Henson will be a major architect of England’s downfall.
“It is going to be the biggest game of my career, but I feel I am a bit of a big-game player and I like playing in these big matches,” he said.
“I feel pretty relaxed going into it, and I am confident we are going to do well. I think it’s our best chance to beat England for a long time.
“A couple of years ago, when they won the World Cup, and before that, they were unbeatable. But I think they’ve sort of lost that stigma now, with the amount of players retiring and injured.
“So we have got a really good chance of beating them, hopefully. They don’t carry that same aura of invincibility that they used to,” added Henson.
This season’s Six Nations tournament appears to be a four-horse race between Ireland, England, Wales and France.
And Wales know a victory in their opening game would set them up for a major assault on silverware.
“I don’t see why we can’t do something special this year in winning a trophy, or at least getting that big win against a big side,” Henson said.
“I’ve never been involved in a Six Nations before. It is something as a kid you always watch and always want to be a part of.
“You are always dreaming of winning a Triple Crown or a Grand Slam, and seeing the crowd come on the field like they used to. It would be nice if something like that happened this year.”
Meanwhile, England boss Andy Robinson hit back after Wales put World Cup winner Julian White’s scrummaging technique under the Millennium Stadium spotlight.
Wales coach Mike Ruddock has urged New Zealand referee Steve Walsh, who will take charge of today’s showdown, to ensure that White packs down correctly.
After analysing detailed video footage of the Leicester prop, Ruddock is concerned that White could scrummage at an angle, boring in on Wales’ hooker Mefin Davies, instead of scrummaging straight on.
Robinson though, who will make his Six Nations debut as England head coach, has kicked Ruddock’s theory into touch.
“This question comes up time after time again,” said Robinson, at England’s Cardiff Bay base.
“When you look at referees, you will notice we don’t give away that many free-kicks or penalties. Steve Walsh is happy with the way that we scrummage.”
He added: “Julian White is an excellent scrummager, as are Steve Thompson and Graham Rowntree.
“They (Wales) are clearly trying to destabilise things because they are fearful of it.
“It is an interesting way of going about it.”
But, in keeping with their injury-hit preparations, the world champions today suffered yet another setback .
Leicester flanker Lewis Moody is out of the Wales clash because of a hamstring problem, prompting a call-up for 6ft 6in Sale Sharks forward Chris Jones at blindside flanker, packing down alongside back-row colleagues Andy Hazell and Joe Worsley.
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