‘WE SHOULD BE IN TOP FOUR’
ROBBIE HENSHAW thinks Connacht could have been challenging for a top-four PRO12 spot this season had they taken the chances that came their way. Pat Lam’s side are still in the running to claim sixth position and the final European Champions Cup slot from the PRO12 with victory over league leaders Ospreys on Saturday, but the Ireland centre believes this season could have delivered more for the province. Connacht are relying on sixth-placed Scarlets losing away to Treviso, while claiming a first win in four games against Ospreys to reach the top European competition. But Henshaw says relying on those unlikely results could have been avoided had they beaten Scarlets, Edinburgh and Cardiff since Christmas, wins that would have had them challenging the top four teams. ‘Definitely looking back at a few results, we could have grabbed a few wins or we could have got a couple of losing bonus points in other games,’ admitted Henshaw, who was named in the league’s team of the season this week. ‘We’d definitely be up there in fifth or fourth. If we look back at a few games we definitely could have won, we’d be sitting in a different position. ‘It’s all about improving at the end of the day. Not everyone is perfect, it’s not a perfect world, it’s all about improving and trying to fix our mistakes and get better week in, week out.’ Now in his third season as a senior Connacht player, Henshaw has experienced a rapid rise though Irish rugby ranks. He made his senior debut less than six months after captaining his school to their second Connacht Senior Cup and this year he played every minute of Ireland’s successful Six Nations campaign. And Henshaw believes the sky is the limit for this Connacht team, claiming that playing in such an expansive backline takes huge pressure off his young shoulders. ‘It’s gotten better every year, from Eric (Elwood) and Nigel (Carolan) bringing me through and the work Pat has done with us is incredible,’ said Henshaw. ‘There are a few young lads in there, it’s quite a young backline and there is a lot of experience to be gained from this year alone. ‘Jack Carty in there is doing incredibly well (at out-half). He has had to take a lot on his shoulders this year with Dan Parks leaving,’ he added. ‘He’s done incredibly well and he has stepped up when we’ve need him. ‘Matt Healy is having an incredible season. He has scored a lot of tries this year, he’s really put his hand up. I think he is in with a shout, I’d say he is on the Irish radar at the moment with the way he is playing,’ said Henshaw of the winger signed from club side Lansdowne. ‘There is X-factor in the backline and we are pretty excited for the weekend. It might take a little bit of pressure off me to not be trying to do everything on my own. The lads are stepping up,’ added Henshaw.