Gavin Henson speaks out on player-power

Mar 3 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

GAVIN HENSON has lifted the lid on player-power in the Wales dressing room by admitting past coaches WERE over-ruled by senior stars.

Henson’s bombshell comments contradict the consistent denials from influential dressing room figures who have always insisted talk of player-power was complete rubbish.

In a frank interview at the start of a week which Wales hope will culminate with the Triple Crown, Henson gave his own account of what used to happen.

Some players had too much influence on decision-making, maintained Henson, and it worked against Wales.

One of the main reasons for the sudden turnaround in Wales’ fortunes, he emphasised, was that under the Warren Gatland regime there is only one boss.

Mike Ruddock left as coach under contentious circumstances, while there were reports of splits over tactics between players and Gareth Jenkins.

Henson insists the difference today under Gatland is stark, stating, “You can see clearly who is in charge. Before, we had a lot of senior players who would voice up a lot.

“You didn’t know who to listen to. Was it the senior players or the coaches?

“Sometimes the senior players would over-rule the coaches and it didn’t quite work.”

Henson’s comments will probably enrage some Welsh rugby figures, who would have been hoping this whole player-power issue had been put to bed.

But his candid remarks will fascinate rugby fans up and down Wales, who were angered by the circumstances in which Grand Slam-winning coach Ruddock left so abruptly.

Henson eventually found himself an outcast under Jenkins, controversially omitted from the World Cup squad on fitness grounds, even though other injured players were still picked.

“It’s totally different these days. You know where you stand with these coaches and that is the way the players react best,” Henson told Scrum V.

As he gets ready for a mouth-watering head-to-head Croke Park showdown with Ireland skipper Brian O’Driscoll, Henson emphasised he preferred the iron fist approach adopted by Gatland.

“You are always on edge and sense you are just one bad training session away from losing your place in the side,” continued Henson.

“We had a bad training day once and I heard Warren at lunchtime say out loud, ‘Maybe I should change the team?’

“I thought to myself, surely not. But that’s the intensity of the training and it’s good for us.

“It’s been refreshing, a different approach to other coaches I’ve had before and that’s what you need.

“Warren and his coaches are pretty strict and that’s good. There is a lot of respect there and players are on the edge the whole time, which is also good.

“Everybody wants to be involved because we can see these are really good coaches and they’re going to take us to some good places.

“They certainly teach you new things and show you a way of playing, which inspires you.”

Gatland names his team for Dublin tomorrow and Henson said, “I don’t think any of us are totally comfortable that we’re going to be in the team.

“I’m not sure if I’m going to get picked against Ireland yet. But we can really sense it’s going to be a good year.”