Robbie Henshaw in top form and buzzing to be back in tandem with Bundee Aki.
Henshaw made his Ireland debut at the age of 19, back in June 2013, and is now 32 caps deep into his Test career.
The 24-year-old may only be a few years older than the likes of Joey Carbery, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jordan Larmour but he already feels like part of the Ireland squads older set. Ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations clash with Italy, Henshaw opened up about his midfield role, Lions lessons and reuniting with his old Connacht mucker Bundee Aki.
Here is the full Q&A:
Are you enjoying it at 13?
Yeah, I’m enjoying it out there. Yeah, it was great to be back playing there, and also to be back in the green shirt as well.
A few things to work on from last week, it was obviously tricky conditiions but we’re looking to always improve as a collective and bringing it into this week, it’s going to be a very tough challenge against Italy.
Does Bundee being there lighten the load on you in the physicality stakes a little?
Yeah, definitely, he looks to put in big shots in the centre, or on whoever comes down the channel. So it’s good to play inside that, because potentially he slows the ball down when he does put in an impact tackle. So it’s easier for me to get out and get my width and just get off the line again.
To the layman, explain the difference between 12 and 13?
I enjoy playing both, I think to be able to play both, you should be able to play both, being in the centre.
But it’s been a while since I’ve played 13, but I’ve just enjoyed being back there, there’s a lot more space and a lot more defensive ownership in the wider channels.
Is the extra space at outside centre the main thing?
A little bit more space, yeah, off second phase, and then defensively there’s a lot more happening out there as well. So yeah, you’re presented with a lot of wider runners, you have the 15 running, the blindside wing running out the back and things like that.
So there’s a lot of different pictures being presented to you.
Focus from outside the camp is on Ireland not scoring many tries. You are now playing a team you have scored 9 against on your last two meetings. Does that add a bit of pressure to get off to a good start?
Yeah well, we’re looking to start the game well. We’re looking to each moment, I suppose, you can’t really look towards bonus point territory at the moment, I think we need to dig it out. We know they’re going to come hard at us and I was impressed by their play last week against England, I thought they were pretty well coached, I think, and they’ve got better as a team.
I think they’ve got better shape in attack than defensively they’re better as well. I think Conor O’Shea has done a pretty good job with them.
But I think for us, we need to go our and focus on our ourselves and our own roles. We can’t go chasing bonus points.
It was an arm-wrestle in Paris but have you guys spoken about how Ireland are the only Six Nations side without a try yet?
Not really, no, we just looked back towards the things we could have done better, the areas of improvement.
We go out with an attacking mindset and were looking at how we were going to break France down but we didn’t speak about not scoring tries, no. We spoke about – we thought it was going to be a really close result, it was two years ago. And this was pretty similar.
Expect more joy against France after early line break?
We looked to exploit them in the early channels early on. We made that good break with Jacob Stockdale and Keith Earls. That was promising, it probably put a question in their defence as well – that we weren’t afraid to go wide with a slippery ball in the rain.
England had some joy off set-moves, against Italy. One to focus on?
Definitely we need to be nailed on with how accurate we can be. Set-piece is one of the main focuses for us, having set-piece dominance and quality of ball I suppose. That’s how you get your tries.
When did you first notice this Jordan Larmour pup?
I think he was brought into camp last year just for a couple of days. Straight away, he caught my eye. Just seeing him rise so rapidly, he’s played exceptionally well. he’s loving being in camp and being involved. He’s learned a lot being in the set-up.
He showed his magic over Christmas. Do you see that there is more to come in training?
When he gets the ball in space, he can create something. He can create something out of nothing as well. He’s an exciting player and he’s able to distribute in the wider channels.
He has a really good feel for when to go and when to let it go. He’s only going to get better now as a player. Being involved now, it’s a test for him and the work he’s put in.
He has coped at every level so far, hasn’t he?
Yeah, he’s coped every time he’s been challenged. It’s another step for him. He knows the step up he’ll have to take, the step up to international level is huge, he’ll be ready.
Do Jordan and the other young call-ups make you feel old?
They definitely do. I see myself as one of the older fellas now. It’s great to be able to look back. It’s great to be able to look back and remember the days when I came in
I know the the seat they’re sitting in now, I’ve been there. So I help them out and just make sure they’re comfortable and they know everything coming in.
You’re a young man being asked to lead, what does that say about you?
Yeah, I’ve been in since I was 19-years-of-age, quite young, and I’ve been around now for a while.
It’s about how you approach it, how you feel you can help out the guys coming in, to be a presence in the team. I’ve been challenged by people to make that step up, that you’re no longer inexperienced, you can lead a little bit more.
I’ve been trying to take on that role now, to be a leader through my actions as well as my voice and that’s been a bit of a change.
Was the Lions disappointment a driver?
That definitely drove me on, I learned a lot out there and I came back with a different attitude to the game and a different sense of where I am at.
But I think to go down there and learn from other players was a big thing I took, I have just been enjoying my rugby.
Do you feel you are a better player since that tour?
Yeah, I think so. I learnt a lot from the guys in the different countries and how they play, approach the game. It’s definitely benefited my rugby.
Distributing more at 13 than at Leinster. How are you feeling about that and the backline starting to gel
Yeah, it’s good. The first game is it’s always tricky. We had two weeks preparation so there’s no excuse but the first game is always a little bit, kind of, dusty. You’re getting a feel for it and then hopefully we’ll kick on this week and kick on. We’re definitely learning more from each other as the weeks go on. Yeah, we’ll look to vary it up this weekend. It’s due to be wet but we’re really excited to get back out there and the guys are getting more confident.
Pressure on next week – trip to Buccaneers RFC in Athlone?
Lot’s of pressure, actually. Myself and one of the physios Keith Fox, we’ve been putting the recommendations for coffee and food together. There’s a lot of expectations but Athlone is a great spot. Looking forward to training back at Buccaneers and getting a run out there.
It has been a while since I’ve played there so it’s definitely exciting and great for the town that the Ireland team are coming. The last time I played there was Irish U20s against England.
Are you getting the boat out?
Maybe. I think the boat is docked. It’s off the water. But we’ll try make sure the lads enjoy themselves; bring them for a bit of food and enjoy the company.
Partnership with Aki. Intuition?
Bundee, with his character, he is always asking ‘What can we do better’ and he’s always looking for information. Whoever Bundee plays with, they know he’s a different type of player – in terms of how vocal he is and how he is always looking to get help, from what other guys are seeing and what is being presented in front of him. That’s the type of player he is and he has been very successful with whoever he plays with. They enjoy his company.
Was he vocal in Paris last week?
Yeah, yeah. When there were breaks in play, we’d always team up and come around. He’d say, “What are we doing? What can we do better?”
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