Iain steps up to grab big chance
IT’S been a surreal couple of days for Iain Henderson and his fellow Ireland teammates, so the sight of fully-decorated Christmas trees lining the halls of their Carton House base, in mid-November, would barely have drawn a second glance.
Henderson missed the scenes at Soldier Field in 2016 with a shoulder injury which made Saturday night’s victory over the All Blacks all the sweeter. The powerful Ulster lock made a big impression on the Lions coaching team during that summer tour of New Zealand, but the 26-year-old failed to break into the Test team.
He would not be denied this time round. Henderson replaced Devin Toner on the hour mark at Lansdowne Road and provided plenty of his trademark impact as Joe Schmidt’s men made history by securing a first win on home soil against the All Blacks.
‘Opportunities to play them do not come around that often… never mind opportunities to beat them,’ said Henderson yesterday,
‘And that was something everyone at the weekend wanted to grab and hold onto, even going back to [the defeat in] 2013. I wasn’t involved in that game, either. That was a tight enough, one that potentially could have went our way, however, that is only three games that players have been chomping at the bit to play in.
‘Everyone wants a shot at the title holder, and they are obviously the best team in world rugby, so everyone is delighted to get the opportunity to play them.’
It was a night that will live long in the memory. Henderson has played in a European Cup final, a World Cup quarter-final and a clutch of crunch Six Nations encounters, but that win against New Zealand has to rank as a career highlight.
‘It was definitely way, way up there,’ he agreed.
‘I felt it and I was able to experience it without having to worry too much about the game whenever I was on the bench. It was a phenomenal atmosphere without ever having to get onto the pitch. Having all the fan base behind you was incredible.
‘The buzz in the general area before the game. Once you get the bus there, you could feel the atmosphere building, not only in the team hotel but lining the streets, driving to the Aviva Stadium and outside the Aviva, with the drums, it was just kind of all building.
‘Then to come out for the Haka as well, it was phenomenal, it was just kind of building all day and then throughout the day.’
However, it was back to business for Ireland yesterday. The US Eagles are the last assignment on this autumn schedule with a host of fringe players set to get an opportunity.
It may be hard to refocus after the scenes of last weekend, but Henderson knows Schmidt will have his squad tuned in for the States.
‘We have already had a look at their line-outs this morning,’ he added.
‘I was in analysing a few of their games. They have played 10 games this year and only lost one, I think. They have been putting immense pressure on every team they have played.
‘There is a probably a bit of a threat there that we are still riding on the high of last weekend.
‘We haven’t actually had a debrief properly and I am sure that will all be knocked out of us probably when Joe gets a hold of the presentations and it will be, again, back to business, back to match week, and see how it goes and see how this week rolls forward.
‘For the players who will be playing again this weekend, the team hasn’t been named as yet, but they will be looking to take the bull by the horns, to really give it a rattle this weekend.’