Barry John critical of Gavin Henson’s inclusion in 35-man 2011 Rugby World Cup training squad
Former Welsh international fly half, Barry John, has strongly criticised the inclusion of the Welsh international utility back Gavin Henson in Warren Gatland’s 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) training squad. John termed Henson as undesirable in the Wales squad for Rugby’s premier championship tournament.
John made his comments while talking to a Welsh newspaper on Sunday, July 17. Earlier on Thursday, July 14, Wales Rugby Union announced a shortened 35-man squad which will take part in the last of their two training camps at Spala, Poland.
Gatland had excluded players like Richie Rees, Jonathan Thomas, Jason Tovey, Ken Owens, Lou Reed,Richard Hibbard, Scott Andrews, Andrew Bishop, John Yapp, Andy Powell, Dwayne Peel and Gareth Delve. However, he named the former Ospreys and currently unattached Gavin Henson in the Wales 35-man squad.
John said, “It baffles me somewhat that the name of Gavin Henson still features on the list of personnel travelling out to Spala this weekend to continue the World Cup build-up."
The 29-year-old Henson has been surrounded by different off field controversies related to his professional and personal life, which has badly affected his reputation as a player and has taken the bite out of him as a lethal back.
Following his disappointing stint with the French Top 14 side Toulouse, Henson was included in Gatland’s initial 2011 RWC squad. Thereafter, he also represented Wales’ international team in their encounter against the Barbarians at Millennium Stadium.
John has expressed his surprise on Gatland’s intended plan to give Henson a place in his final 30 – man squad for 2011 RWC. He added that former Welsh national rugby union team’s head coaches Steve Hansen and Gareth Jenkins didn’t include Henson in their 2003 and 2007 RWC squads but Gatland did.
John said, “Four years on, he is in no real state to play top level international rugby. But he is clearly a Gatland player, a key member of the coach's thinking for this autumn.”
John added that he is aware of the fact that Gatland has been a great admirer of Henson’s ball handling, running and tackling skills. However, these attributes are thing of a past for Henson.
John further added, “If we're being brutally honest, we're talking here about the Gavin Henson of three years ago, not the model in 2011.”
Wales will kick-start their second training camp at Spala from Monday, July 18.
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