Davies: Henson hard done by

Wales great Jonathan Davies believes banned Grand Slam star Gavin Henson has received too harsh a punishment after being found guilty of elbowing an opponent.

Henson will appeal against his 72-day suspension tomorrow, having already served more than two weeks for an offence committed during Ospreys’ Heineken Cup defeat against Leicester just before Christmas.

The Ospreys centre was cited for elbowing Tigers prop Alex Moreno – and he is currently set to sit out Wales’ opening three RBS 6 Nations games against England, Scotland and Ireland next month.

A three-man panel, which includes former Ireland and Lions prop Phil Orr, will hear Henson’s appeal at the European Rugby Cup offices in Dublin.

The ban could be quashed, reduced, retained or even extended. But whatever happens, former Wales fly-half Davies is firmly on Henson’s side.

“I think he received too long a ban,” said Davies.

“I feel now that with someone like Phil Orr on the panel, who has experienced playing at international level, there will be some sympathy for him.

“Every case has got to be looked at individually, and not the same ban imposed for every one.”

Wales coach Mike Ruddock faces an anxious wait for the outcome of Henson’s hearing – having already lost injured quartet Kevin Morgan, Ryan Jones, Brent Cockbain and Chris Horsman for the entire Six Nations campaign.

Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin is also unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery from a knee problem, so Henson’s availability for the February 4 opener against world champions England at Twickenham would be a timely boost.

Worcester forward Horsman became the latest Welsh victim, with the Warriors confirming their tighthead prop requires an ankle operation on Thursday. He is unlikely to play again this season.

Horsman, 27, made his Wales debut off the replacements’ bench against New Zealand in November and then started Tests against Fiji, South Africa and Australia. He qualified for Wales on residency grounds last year.

“Chris has been playing through the pain from his ankle for some time now, and the point has been reached where surgery is the only real option,” said Worcester rugby director John Brain.

“It is a blow for us, but not an unexpected one – and we have enough quality props at the club to deal with the situation.

“Until the surgery has been completed, we can’t be sure exactly how long he will be out of the game, but we will do everything we can at the club to ensure that his recovery will be complete.”

If Henson’s suspension stays at 72 days then he would be available for Wales’ final Six Nations games against Italy and France – but after such a long absence, Ruddock is unlikely to consider him.

“Gavin is a loss,” added Davies.

“His distribution skills and kicking skills are of huge importance, and it is important for Wales to have him back because he is a quality player.

“I think he needs to start playing – he knows that. Because of injury and the ban, he hasn’t really had an opportunity this season. But I think he is important to Wales, especially in the current injury situation.”

Henson has made just three appearances this season after recovering from groin surgery but is now out of the game until early March.

A second charge that Henson aimed a kick at Moreno, who suffered a broken nose as a result of the elbowing incident, was dismissed by a disciplinary panel which sat in Glasgow two days before Christmas.

At the time, Ruddock said: “It is disappointing news for Gavin, the Ospreys and the Welsh team.

“It is particularly unfortunate for Gavin, in that he was only just coming back from a long-term injury, and we all wanted him to focus fully on regaining his match fitness and form by playing for the Ospreys.

“However, what this citing case proves is the importance for players at all levels to maintain good discipline.”

Match citing commissioner Bill Dunlop reported Henson, and the ban came barely a month after France captain Fabien Pelous received a nine-week suspension for striking Wallabies hooker Brendan Cannon with his elbow during a Test match in Marseille.

Henson has not played for Wales since the Grand Slam-clinching victory over Ireland in Cardiff last March.

Concussion then ended his Lions tour of New Zealand a week early, ruling him out of the Test series finale in Auckland after he had started the second Test, and he underwent surgery in Germany earlier this season to cure a long-standing groin problem.

If Henson misses the entire Six Nations campaign his earliest opportunity to regain a Wales place would be on next summer’s Argentina tour.