22-year-old Welsh Rugby Union player Gavin Lloyd Henson, who is now playing for Saracens in Aviva Premiership, has been warned that he should not expect to waltz back into shape.
Even though the signs are positive since Boxing Day, the day he returned to Rugby. After being out of game for 21 months and dancing out from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, the Welshman will at last end his separation, with his new club Saracens’ league match
against Wasps at Wembley. This warning was publicly given by Wasps chief Tony Hanks.
Tony Hanks, a former coach at Wasps became Director of Rugby for the club in 2009. He had also been coaching at Waikato, and was a substitute for McGeechan for the 2009 season. His experience also includes British and Irish Lions duty. The very experienced
Tony Hanks warns the Welshman that a first game after long break is always easy in comparison to those coming after. He believes Henson’s form could drown in between the season. He explains his prediction with a valid example. Skipper Tom Rees came back with
a storm after a long gap. But then the skipper had to struggle to maintain the quality and the standard of his game for the rest of the season.
Hanks added, “In many ways the first game back is the easy one. There is not much expectation and you can get through on adrenaline.” Tony Hanks ironic as ever went on, “Seeing how you are faring after three or four games is when it gets interesting.” Tom
Rees was out for eleven months, but when he came back and made his first appearance against Northampton last year, he was awarded as the player of the day. Same was the case with Lawrence Dallaglio.
According to critics and analysts Gavin Henson is expected to be reserved on bench, as his team will play in opposition to Wasps who have recorded a six match win in this tournament and are apparent to be a tough wall to crack. This is the best for run Wasps
in past six years, and has brought them really close to quarterfinals of Heinekens Cup. Their success on Sunday will set them directly to the play-off spots.
This is the first time for the entire current Wasps team to play at Wembley. To compensate, they will be learning a lot from their Defence Coach Shaun Edwards. Edwards has history of playing eleven finals and three tests at Wembley as a Rugby League player.
Shaun Edwards also looks confident about this coming match and is ready to inject his experience into the new players.
Tony Hanks said, “We will tap into Shaun’s experience. We’re going to embrace going to Wembley. It is great for everyone.” Hanks further shared that he believes it’s very essential to keep up with this momentum from Heineken Cup to the league table. A victory
will keep Wasps in top group and help them when it comes to points. The last three games were a key factor to their position today.
It is the first time they will play an away game against Saracens this year. Last year there was couple of tough games between the two sides. The upcoming match will be an interesting and a decisive match for both sides.
Wasps’ forward coach Trevor Woodman confidently added to the statements, “We know what Saracens are about and it is up to us to go to Wembley and try to ruin their big day.” Many pre-match statements have created hype and everyone is expecting this match
to turn as big as the tournament has been.
On the other hand, Harlequins will be looking forward to a 70,000 above crowd on Monday, for their Game 3 in the Premiership fixture adjacent to London Irish at Twickenham. Mark Evans, the Harlequin’s chief executive confirmed that the club is in advanced
discussions with the RFU to play a fixture at Twickers for the next three years.
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