Robbie Henshaw: I’m just backing myself now

Robbie Henshaw made sure to squeeze every last nugget of wisdom from Brian O’Driscoll, even after the great one’s retirement, but the Connacht centre is ready to stand on his own two feet as he prepares for his first Six Nations outing.

It was after starting in November’s last Test match, the defeat of Australia, Henshaw made a quip about having asked O’Driscoll, who had mentored him in Irish camp, not to cut the umbilical cord entirely once his playing days were numbered.

No such entreaties have been made of late.