Henson happy to be back

Henson will start on the bench as Wales look to register their second win in this year’s competition following their Round Two over Scotland two weeks ago. Henson’s return to the national squad had been delayed following a lengthy ban for an incident in the Heineken Cup while playing for his regional side, Ospreys.

The centre was found guilty of elbowing Leicester Tigers prop Alessando Monero, and banned until March 5. On appeal, however, his ban was reduced, making him available for selection this weekend. And Henson has revealed that he has been welcomed back with open arms into the Welsh set-up this week.

“I have fitted back in well with training,” he said. “The boys have taken me back in like any normal player, and I am just a part of it.”

Henson’s controversial autobiography ‘My Grand Slam Year’ put the Ospreys centre on the front pages of the national press on a regular basis last year. In the book, he passed comment on some of his current Wales team-mates, and discussed his involvement in the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.

Henson said: “I thought the boys would be okay. There are quite a few Ospreys players in there, so I speak to them. I’m really looking forward to the match against Ireland, Lansdowne Road is always a tough place to play, and I’m sure it will be a hard match, but we have some quality players and will go there with a positive attitude.”