Rugby World Cup 2011
Henson backs Henry for job
2011-10-28 12:36
Email | Print
Gavin Henson (Gallo)
|
|
Sydney - Gavin Henson believes Graham Henry would do nicely for England if the
Rugby Football Union takes up the Rugby World Cup-winning coach's offer of
help.
The controversial Welsh back is poised to relaunch his
own career with Cardiff Blues at a time when the focus of attention is
very much on English rugby - for all the wrong reasons. Internal strife
and a pitiful World Cup campaign have prompted speculation that heads
could roll as part of an overall review into the structure of the
English game.
Henry revealed in yesterday's Daily Telegraph
that he would be keen to listen to any approach from Twickenham. He
said: "I would love to work in coach development, player development,
environmental development, cultural development of a group of people. I
am passionate about that."
If the former Wales coach did come back to this part of
the world, Henson, 29, would be the first to tip an English
rejuvenation. "He is now a World Cup-winning coach and I owe him a lot
because he gave me my first cap in 2001," Henson said. "He was good for
Wales - look at his record. Unfortunately, things didn't go so well
after he left until Mike Ruddock came in and we won the Grand Slam.
"Having won the World Cup, Graham has shown that he is a
great coach, and of course anyone would want to have him working for
them. Graham and Mike Ruddock certainly did a great deal for me as a
player and I will always be grateful for that."
Henson himself still harbours international ambitions as
he starts another comeback to the club game, having signed a short-term
deal with Cardiff Blues.
Henson, capped 33 times, blames a lack of desire and a
string of injuries for his fall from grace. However, he said: "I'm
certainly not finished with Wales. I need to get back playing for the
Blues and, after a difficult couple of years, I'm ready for that.
"So, if I do well for the region, who knows what might
happen. I would like to think that I could get back into the squad
sooner rather than later."
A wrist injury against England in August that cost Henson
any chance of playing at the World Cup has yet to heal fully and a
Blues debut is four or five weeks away.
However, that is not stopping him aiming even higher. "I
would love to play for the Lions in two years' time and that's an aim
for me. I also want to play at a World Cup because I was left out in
2003 and 2007. Having said that, I don't feel I was deserving of a place
in this World Cup squad. I don't believe it would have been right for
me to have snuck in."