Robbie Henshaw ready to step it up

Robbie Henshaw can sense the heightened tensions.

With Joe Schmidt deciding on his World Cup squad this Sunday, and Wales visiting Dublin the day before, there is a frisson of added nervousness and energy among the Ireland players at Carton House. The hits have been that bit harder, the running lines sharper.

Henshaw isn’t one of those who has to worry about making the final 31, but he is one of half-a-dozen of Schmidt’s main men for whom the arrival of Warren Gatland’s side promises the prospect of a first run-out after weeks of pre-season training and zero match time.

His unwrapping from cotton wool should excite more than just him. Henshaw slotted in seamlessly to the Irish midfield last season, but he assumes his station for this latest campaign without the cloak of relative anonymity that would have served him well before.

He accepts as much.

“Yeah, potentially. My first year in Connacht I don’t think too many teams knew me and I had an awful lot of space because I don’t think I was looked at as much. Definitely, in the last couple of years the games have been tighter and teams have looked to close us down fairly fast.

“So I think I mightn’t see that much space anymore, but it’s about playing smart and looking for those breaks when they do appear. At this level you’d be lucky to get one a game so you really have to look for it and take it with two hands when you take that opportunity.”

He feels ready for the challenge that brings. Last November’s Tests proved that he could mix it at the international grade and the Six Nations added an extra layer of confidence to a player who, by his own admission, is still emerging from his callow shell.

He spoke yesterday of how he has felt emboldened to engage in a two-way conversation with Schmidt as time has gone on.

Nothing major, just entreaties for the coach’s thoughts and impressions, but the ‘be seen and not heard’ rookie days are over.

“I’ve matured as a player. I’m still pretty young, but from last year being involved in the squad regularly I’ve matured into that centre role.

“I’m really looking forward to getting in there, into the thick of things. More and more, in the last couple of years, I’ve come on in leaps and bounds.”

None of which is to say that he is blind to the need for continued improvements.

“His aggression has always been a trademark, but he is mindful of the need to clean up his discipline somewhat and not get sidetracked by the sort of off-the-ball stuff that detracts from the priorities of the day.

He will still look to make his mark with the tackle, which is something both himself and Jared Payne have done consistently since assuming the centre partnership from the venerable pairing of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy. The aim now is to add a greater offensive arm.

“Absolutely. We’re going to play a lot more in the coming weeks. We’re going to attack a lot more and it’s going to be more exciting play. We’ll look to exploit our strengths, whether it’s kicking in the air or just running hard lines in the centre. We’ll look to change it up a little in the coming weeks.”

Payne showed once again against Scotland two weekends ago just how valuable a player he has become for Ireland in such a short space of time — and how lucky Henshaw has been to be assimilated into the side at the same time as the New Zealand native.

Ian Madigan gushed afterwards over the Ulsterman’s ability to do the simple things so smoothly and choose the correct option almost all the time. Henshaw was equally effusive about his partner’s refusal to panic and the ability to exude an air of calm.

“I was just having a word with one of the lads during the week about how I was just amazed by the amount of time he has on the ball. When he has it on his hands it seems like players are in slow motion, rushing around him, that kind of way.

“He is a balanced kind of player and when he has the ball he is looking to exploit the defence and in his defensive game as well he always makes the right read. He always has your back and he is really perfect to have outside you in that number 13 shirt.”