Michael Owen: Henson should be Welsh No.8
Former Wales captain Michael Owen believes that Gavin Henson is the best available person for No.8 position.
Michael Owen, who captained Wales to win a first Grand Slam in 27 years, is extremely dissatisfied with Wales’ performance in the last 12 months and wants to see Gavin Henson back in team.
Gavin Henson, who has recently signed a new contract with Saracens, having previously played for ospreys, has been out from rugby since March 2009, when he had an ankle injury while he was playing against Gloucester in the semi-final of EDF Energy Cup.
Although, he had recovered from injury in April this year, he could not start rugby as he was under contract with BBC for their show 'Strictly Come Dancing'. Unfortunately for him, the match dates clashed with the show dates.
Owen’s statement comes at a time when Henson's comeback in rugby looks set. Henson is likely to play the Boxing Day match of Aviva Premiership against the Wasps and it will be his first match with Saracens as well.
His new club’s chief executive Ed Griffiths has also confirmed his participation in the Boxing Day match. According to Griffiths, Henson looked really sharp in training with all the coaching staff satisfied with his fitness and it won’t be much time before
the fans see him in a Saracens shirt.
On the other hand, Welsh Coach Warren Gatland also has a close eye on Henson as he wants to see him in the team but has made it clear to him that he needs to prove his form and fitness first.
Henson has decided to play at the outside-half position in the Boxing Day match
and he would also like to play at the same position for Wales as well.
But Gatland has a different plan for him and he wants to see him playing at the center, where he has previously played for Wales in two Grand Slam tournaments.
On the other hand, Michael Owen, who has played with Henson in the past, said the No.8 role has changed in recent times and it demands much more skill than in previous years.
“The role of the No.8 is changing massively in terms of what they are expected to do. They are almost playing like an extra back these days. As well as doing the ball carrying, they are hanging back to receive kicks and remaining wide to be the outside
man in defense or offence. You even see No.8s kicking these days.”
Owen justified his idea and said Springboks have already adopted this strategy and Pierre Spies is playing this role very effectively for his country. He is a very classy player and showed with his scoring pass to Willem Alberts against England, that their
new strategy is effective.
Without any doubt, Owen’s idea is a good one as it could bring a change in the game of rugby and people’s interest will increase with this innovation. Owen has also launched a website where he is sharing his ideas about rugby with common people and takes
their views on them.
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