Iain Henderson wary of Eben Etzebeth’s giant influence

Iain Henderson knows better than most how bad it can get if Eben Etzebeth and his Springboks start to impose themselves on a game.

The second rows have been locking horns since they were Under-20s and this Saturday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium will see them reunited once more when Ireland host a South African side captained by Etzebeth in the home side’s Guinness Series opener.

Etzebeth, who turned 26 a fortnight ago, is four months Henderson’s senior and was a fledgling Test player with a burgeoning reputation when the Ulsterman came off the bench in Dublin for his Ireland debut in 2012.