Henderson: Farrell wanted to test us under squad selection pressure

Iain Henderson refused to accept that any anxiety surrounding the imminent squad selection had impacted on the below-par performance against Samoa

Ireland’s Iain Henderson during the post-Samoa press conference

Iain Henderson praised his Ireland team-mates for casting aside any nervousness about Sunday’s World Cup squad selection and discounted Andy Farrell’s announcement of his 33 players for the tournament as a factor contributing to their disappointing performance against Samoa.

Henderson captained Ireland to a 17-13 win over the Tier-Two nation at Stade Jean Dauger on Saturday night and spoke of the disappointment felt inside the dressing room that they could not have put together a more fluent performance in the Bayonne rain.