Gavin Henson, the cause celebre of not only the Welsh press corps but it seems the travelling English media as well, has reacted to his omission from the Lions squad for the first Test next Saturday with disarming and almost boyish candour, admitting he was "absolutely devastated" and had endured "a sleepless night" on foot of Clive Woodward's decision.
The one-time IRB Player of the Year has become something of a David Beckham-like figure in British rugby and, huge talent though he is, is in danger of becoming a bit of a circus act.
Pursued to Invercargill by a few journalists for today's game against Southland, such was Henson's typically honest reaction that the Lions' media team felt obliged to release his comments, which further suggests his reaction was unscheduled.
"When Clive read out the team for the Southland game I was absolutely devastated," he admitted. "It was really hard to take in because I thought I had a chance of making the Test side, or at least the 22, so to be told I wasn't involved came as such a shock.
"I take my game very seriously and this will take me a while to get over. I didn't sleep at all well last night. At least I have a game tomorrow, which will help me get it out of my system. It means I can straight away get back to what I do best," said Henson.
"The worst thing would be to just be sitting in a hotel room thinking about it. I really need this game tomorrow, and of course I have to keep playing, try to press for a Test place later in the tour.
"I had a proper chat with Clive and he told me he doesn't have a problem with the way I'm playing and he said he just wanted to go with experience for the Test. There are 45 players on tour and the coaches have to make the decisions in the end. I understand that."
Henson has always been an engaging mixture of shyness and quotability. Quiet in a team environment, previously painfully shy in front of the media glare, he has now become a "star" with a disarming habit of saying exactly what he feels.
"It's a bit like when I got left out of the World Cup. Back then I felt really low. I don't want that to happen again and luckily there are three Tests. You just don't know what will happen. All I can do is try to play well. I have a point to prove. I want to show everyone what I am capable of. Right now I'm just gutted."
SOUTHLAND: J Wilson; M Harrison, B Milne, F Muliaina, W Lotawa; R Apanui, J Cowan; C Dermody (capt), J Rutledge, A Dempsey, H Macdonald, D Quate, H Tamariki, H T-Pole, P Miller. Replacements: J Murch, D Hall, R Logan/R Hemi, J Wright, A Clarke, M Petre, P Te Whare.
LIONS: G Murphy (Ireland); M Cueto (England), O Smith (England), G Henson (Wales), D Hickie (Ireland); R O'Gara (Ireland), G Cooper (Wales); M Stevens (England), A Titterrell (England), J Hayes (Ireland), S Shaw (England), D O'Callaghan (Ireland), L Moody (England), M Williams (Wales), M Owen (Wales) capt. Replacements: G Bulloch (Scotland), A Sheridan (England), S Easterby (Ireland), C Cusiter (Scotland), C Hodgson (England), T Shanklin (Wales), G D'Arcy (Ireland).
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand).
Previous meetings: (1908) Southland 8 Lions 14; (1930) Southland 3 Lions 9; (1950) Southland 11 Lions 0; (1959) Southland 6 Lions 11; (1966) Southland 14 Lions 8; (1971) Southland 3 Lions 25; (1977) Southland 12 Lions 20; (1983) Southland 3 Lions 41; (1993) Southland 16 Lions 34.
Forecast: Lions to win handsomely.
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