HENSON COMPARED TO TOP NFL STAR
GAVIN Henson has been dubbed rugby’s version of American Football great Tom Brady after pushing his way into the mix for selection for the Dragons’ Guinness PRO14 opener with Benetton.
The former Wales star rolled back the years as a second-half super-sub to even earn the appreciations of Gloucester’s notoriously fickle diehards in the Shed at Kingsholm on Thuirsday night with some of his delicate touches.
And he was later compared by Dragons coach Bernard Jackman to legendary Super Bowl king and master tactician Tom Brady.
New England Patriots quarterback Brady has won a record-equalling five Super Bowls and played in a record eight finals.
The 41-year-old Brady is five years older than Henson but is still the main man on the roster at the Patriots.
Henson wants to be the same at the Dragons after being a fall guy following a home defeat to Cardiff Blues on Boxing Day last year, but surely must start a potentially tricky encounter with Benetton at Newport’s Rodney Park a week today simply because he’s the region’s best and most experienced No.10.
Wales’ double Six Nations Grand Slam winner had endless time on the ball as he impressively orchestrated a fightback from 40-12 behind which brought 19 unanswered points for the friendly to finish 40-31 despite having an injured knee drained of fluid 24 hours earlier.
Henson admitted pre-season he expected to start the season on the fringes of the Dragons team, but he couldn’t have done much more against Gloucester with ex-Ireland hooker Jackman and another former Wales and Lions star, Richard Hibbard, singing his praises.
“I made him do his hair before the game – I knew he would play well then,” quipped Dragons’ summer recruit from Gloucester Hibbard, who was a team-mate of Henson’s with the Ospreys and Wales.
“He actually made some tackles you know he’s up for it when he makes those!”
Jackman said: “He wants to put his best foot forward and I think he had an excellent 40 minutes. He was just composed.
“Gavin has put his hands in the air. He’s very good at manipulating a defence and getting the ball away.
“Considering he hadn’t played since January and has a bad knee, he did really well.
“He follows Tom Brady in how he eats and sleeps - I think he wants to carry on playing until he’s 45!”
Henson said: “I would love to go one more year professionally. That’s a big drive for me this year to get that next year.
“I’m always looking for perfection, even at my age. I’m still dreaming of that perfect game, that’s what keeps my drive in training.”