Robbie’s war of attrition
Henshaw revels in the trenches
‘We came up short last year, it won’t happen again’
ROBBIE HENSHAW has already witnessed quite the transition during his short Leinster career. Last season, he was part of a free-flowing, adventurous side that consistently racked up huge scores in the early stages of the European Champions Cup and Pro12.
But it wasn’t enough, and the Blues’ failure to adapt from that expansive game-plan eventually contributed to their undoing in both competitions.
Leinster fell flat in semi-final defeats to Clermont Auvergne and Scarlets respectively. Lessons were learned over that disappointing run-in and, as a result, we have seen a smarter, more streetwise Leinster this time around.
Last weekend’s impressively disciplined and dogged 18-8 win in Exeter was just the latest evidence that Leo Cullen’s team are well able to mix it up in order to get over the line against even the most stubborn of opponents.
And for Henshaw, the former Connacht stalwart, that balance can prove crucial over the coming months. ‘We did what we had to do to secure victory and that’s what we will have to do this season,’ he said.
‘We need to be more ruthless. We look at last year where we came up short and we are going to ensure that doesn’t happen again so we can go a step further.
‘We need to do the best we can in certain situations. Definitely on the weekend it was up the jumper stuff and we needed to do that, break them down up front before we were able to get some yards wider out.
‘Now it didn’t really pan out that way but certainly this week it will be a different approach from Exeter. They’re coming to play, they will have a chip on their shoulder.’
Leinster’s tweaked approach was certainly more practical for the challenge they faced at Sandy Park, but for a player like Henshaw was it as enjoyable to be a a part of?
‘Well, we got the win, didn’t we?’ he smiles. ‘I got stuck into the mix of it myself a few times. I was getting a bit cold in the outer channels so I rolled up my sleeves and helped the forwards a bit.
‘It was a real battle. We had to put down a statement, lay down a marker.
‘By doing that, we had to play how they play in their 22 and defend how they defend in our 22. So that was obviously in the tighter channels and going hard at it.’
It was type of encounter that Henshaw’s father, Tony, would have relished, and the 24-yearold admits that deep down there is a part of him that still loves the more attritional side of the game.
‘My old man and uncle were prop forwards so there must be a bit of a gene inside me which doesn’t mind the down and dirty stuff,’ Henshaw continued.
‘I think I played a bit in the back row when I was underage so there’s a little bit of experience there.
‘I suppose it reminds me of them [father and uncle], they weren’t fancy or flash players with fancy passes or step-offs each foot.
‘They were just kind of, pick it up, head down, and drive,’ he added.
‘It’s obviously not ideal when your backs are going into the pick and go position or the forwards’ positions but I don’t mind giving the forwards a hand now and again.’
Earlier in the week, Stuart Lancaster emphasised that the Premiership champions will be expected to arrive at Aviva Stadium with the bit between their teeth after seeing Leo Cullen’s men end their impressive year- long unbeaten home record.
Leinster don’t have to look too far back into their own history books to see how dangerous English sides can be on the back of a defeat.
In 2013, Northampton recovered from a 40-7 thumping by the Blues to record a thrilling 18-9 win at Landsdowne Road the following weekend.
Hence, there was a very clear message rammed home in the post-match huddle on the Sandy Park turf.
‘We were obviously delighted with the win,’ Henshaw continued. ‘But we said we needed to back it up straight away. It’s going to be one hell of a game, especially in the packed-out Aviva.
‘I love playing in the RDS, it’s an unbelievable stadium as well, but when you go and play in your national stadium, you don’t do it too often.
‘I think it raises the bar straight away, it raises the excitement for each individual. You’d obviously love to play there week in, week out, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.
‘Take it back to the Wasps game last season (a 32-17 win), the Northampton game this time year (60-13), we played outstanding both times and, ultimately, playing in that stadium drives our performance and makes us perform.
‘We’ll be looking to do that again and it’s going to be a great game.’