Henson lauds Lions 'experience'

Gavin Henson tonight insisted that life with Clive Woodward’s Lions had been “a really good experience”.

And Henson admitted he cannot wait to tackle the All Blacks again when New Zealand launch their British and Irish tour against Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff on November 5.

Wales centre Henson was controversially ignored by Woodward for the first Test in Christchurch earlier this summer.

It was a hopelessly one-sided affair, with England’s World Cup-winning coach seeing his selection policy backfire spectacularly as New Zealand triumphed 21-3.

A shoulder injury then restricted Henson to just one Test appearance – the 48-18 Wellington drubbing when Woodward made mass changes – as the Lions suffered a 3-0 series whitewash, but controversy was never far away.

A New Zealand Sunday newspaper reported that Henson had considered quitting the tour following his first Test exclusion, while he also found himself an unwitting victim of a photograph stunted by Lions media consultant Alastair Campbell.

The picture, taken using a long lens and which showed Woodward and Henson together, was aimed at dismissing rumours of unrest in the Lions camp.

Henson, though, on arriving back in Britain from New Zealand last month, claimed he did not know he was being photographed.

But despite finding himself regularly in the public eye during six forgettable weeks Down Under, Henson believes the tour was hugely beneficial to his rugby development.

“I felt I learned a lot from the Lions – it was a really good experience,” he said.

“When you spend time with these other guys, train with them and eat with them day in, day out, it takes the aura away from them and gives your confidence a lift.

“They are built up to be world-class players, which they are, and you wonder if you are as good as them or still quite a way off, but when you are with them training, you realise that you are up there with them.

“I learned a lot from working with Jonny Wilkinson and Dave Alred on the kicking side of my game, especially their attitudes towards it and the sheer work-rate.

“I always thought I put an obscene number of hours into kicking practice, but when you work with Wilkinson and Alred, it’s just another level again.

“I can’t wait for the new season now, especially given the Six Nations we had with Wales last season, because it has given us the confidence to go out and play against the other home countries and realise we are up there with them.”

Henson took time out from his pre-season break – he is unlikely to play before early October – today to help mark Welsh regional side the Ospreys’ new two-year, £300,000 sponsorship deal with leading UK green energy developer npower renewables.

Henson and his fellow Lion Ryan Jones paraded the Ospreys’ new shirt, which was launched at the region’s recently-opened 20,000 capacity stadium in Swansea.

Both players will join the Ospreys on a pre-season camp in France from next Tuesday, and Henson added: “I’ve had about three weeks off, and my body wants to get back training now.

“Last season was a long season, and I definitely needed a break, but I am itching to get back now.

“I suppose it’s a little bit harder to switch off now, because you know the expectation is there and you need to improve on last season, but I can’t wait to touch a rugby ball again.”

And as for that eagerly-awaited appointment with the All Blacks in just three months’ time, he said: “We did really well against the All Blacks in Cardiff last year, and I felt we should have won that game.

“This Welsh team has loads of confidence, especially after the Six Nations we had last season.”