Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HENDERSTUN
Big lock Iain reveals his shock at first ever Ireland call..now he’ll face those Boks again
IAIN HENDERSON feels like he inhabits a different planet to the one he landed on five years ago as an Ireland Test debutant.
He admits now that he has no idea why he was picked by Declan Kidney to face South Africa in November 2012.
“Looking back now I understand why no one ever selected me until I made my international debut,” he laughed.
“I had only really started playing for Ulster at the time and I thought it was very bizarre.
“I was young and raw and inexperienced and probably didn’t have a bit of a clue what I was doing. That’s what I think now.
“It was obviously a coach having faith in me, they sort of saw what they could potentially mould out of this 20-year-old kid who didn’t really know what he was doing. I loved it at the time. It was fantastic.
It speaks volumes about how far the big Ulsterman has travelled that, as he prepares for Saturday’s Guinness Series clash with the Springboks, Henderson regrets he’s not able to call himself a Lions Test player.
The 25-year-old impressed in New Zealand, featuring in six of the 10
games. When it came to the three Tests, however, it was George Kruis, Alun Wyn Jones, Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes who got the call from Warren Gatland.
Henderson believes he was one of a number of tourists who was on the back foot after a disjointed opening team performance against the Provincial Barbarians – just two days after arriving in New Zealand
“You can make all the excuses about the jet lag but we were there to do a job and it was frustrating that yes, we got the win, but we didn’t start as good as we could have. I came away thinking I was slightly hard done by. However, that’s just the way it goes. I’ve missed out on selections before and it’s something you’ve just got to do.
“It is realising not to get too ahead of myself and realise I was lucky and happy to be there.
“If I was happy enough not to get selected I probably wouldn’t be where I am. And it’s the same for anyone in the Ireland squad. They wouldn’t be here if they were happy enough to settle for second best.”
With Paul O’connell gone and Donnacha Ryan out of sight and out of mind at Racing 92, there’s an onus on Henderson and Devin Toner to establish a solid platform against the Springboks as the next World Cup begins to hover into view.
Coming into this series after captaining Ulster in three games, he has looked a more consistent force over the past year or so and Joe Schmidt will look for him to play a key role.
“There have been a couple of performances where I have slipped off a wee bit,” Henderson pointed out.
“But it’s probably getting more comfortable in your routine and in preparing for a game. On top of that, it’s playing in well-coached teams and depending on the players around you.”