Robbie Henshaw bracing for 'huge intensity' from Damian de Allende and South Africa

Henshaw has been training this week with his Ireland team-mate Bundee Aki playing the opposition role as Damian de Allende

Robbie Henshaw during a British & Irish Lions gym session. Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Robbie Henshaw will not shrink from the bruising physicality he is expecting from South Africa on Saturday and the Ireland centre insisted the British & Irish Lions are “massively ready” for the collision with the world champions.

Henshaw will lead the Lions’ defence from inside centre against the Springboks in the first Test at Cape Town Stadium. After Warren Gatland revealed there had been a “pretty tasty” training session earlier in the week with “bone on bone” contact between the starting XV and the players that missed out on selection, Henshaw, speaking on the eve of the match, said the tourists were well prepared for the encounter to come.