Henshaw blow for Schmidt

Joe Schmidt’s plans to usher in a new era for Ireland’s midfield this summer have been hit by the withdrawal of Robbie Henshaw from next week’s two-Test tour to Argentina.

The rising Connacht star, 20, is one of the leading candidates to replace Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre for Ireland following the iconic Leinster player’s retirement from Test rugby at the end of the Six Nations in March.

Yet with just 10 competitive fixtures before the Rugby World Cup 2015 warm-ups in 15 months, Henshaw has been forced to undergo surgery to repair damaged hand ligaments.

An IRFU statement yesterday said Henshaw had been managing the injury since sustaining it earlier but it was exacerbated during training this week and specialist advice recommended surgical repair “should not be delayed further”.

Schmidt will wait until after tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 final between Leinster and Glasgow before deciding who should replace Henshaw on the tour, but will leave for Argentina with established centres Luke Marshall and Darren Cave named in his original squad, while Fergus McFadden can play at 12 or 13 and Keith Earls is also experienced at outside centre.

Henshaw earned his first two caps on tour in North America last summer and featured against Australia last November, finishing the season by being voted the Nevin Spence Young Player of the Year for the second year in succession.