Toner hails ‘monster’ Henderson as Ireland bash sorry Springboks

IRELAND SOUTH AFRICA

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Iain Henderson has realised his potential as a true Test match “monster” for Ireland, according to lock partner Devin Toner. Ulster powerhouse Henderson bulldozed straight through South Africa captain and talisman Eben Etzebeth as Ireland thumped the sorry Springboks 38-3 in Dublin on Saturday.

The 25-year-old’s stunning muscle-flexing added another clip to his impressive highlights reel, but team-mate Toner insisted he is simply making good on a long-held promise. “Iain Henderson’s turned into the enforcer he always had the potential to become,” said Toner. “When he was coming through we didn’t call him the man-child for nothing, he’s a monster in the gym and a monster on the pitch. And it’s fantastic for Irish rugby that he’s turning into that player we all knew he could become. When you have someone who is the talisman of Etzebeth, he’s their captain, he’s renowned for being their physical man on the pitch. So when you see Hendy stand up to him and get the better of him, it’s amazing, it’s brilliant and it gives your team a real gee-up.”

Andrew Conway, Rhys Ruddock, Rob Herring and Jacob Stockdale scored Ireland’s tries in a record win over the Springboks, for whom head coach Allister Coetzee’s tenure appears on thin ice.

Asked if he felt his job is under threat, Coetzee replied: “You’re always under pressure at Test level. It’s difficult to explain [the defeat]; there are no positives from our side to be honest.”

0 Iain Henderson: Enforcer.