'I like the pressure' - Competition for starting spot driving Henshaw to next level

There was a period of time when, in the rare enough event that Ireland had their three primo centres – Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki – available, it was likely to be the latter who would lose out.

That was usually the case in the last three years of Joe Schmidt's reign and in the first couple of years under Andy Farrell.

Those days are gone. Such has been the form of Aki, which brought a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination, that it's now a case of Henshaw, Ringrose and Stuart McClosley upping their game in order to convince Farrell they should slot in beside the 33-year-old Connacht man.

Following Ireland’s win over France, Farrell hailed the return to form of Henshaw, who never got up to speed at the World Cup as he struggled with a hamstring injury.

The Athlone native has started the last three games in the centre, however, partnering Aki in the wins over Les Bleus and Wales.

Now the 30-year-old feels he’s getting up to speed after a frustrating spell.

"It’s probably getting a run of games, getting minutes," says Henshaw, who started all three Lions Tests in 2021, of his recent form.

"I’ve been lucky to get back from the World Cup, get a run of games with Leinster and just enjoy it.

"It was stop-start before that. You get form from playing rugby, so to be playing, starting, that’s where you get the best out of me.

"It’s always tricky [to re-establish yourself after injury].

"That’s the nature of the game. We’re lucky to have such good talent here in this team, all the centres are top class.

"When you get the chance you have to perform and take it, otherwise someone else can take it. I like the pressure."

Henshaw's attack coach at Leinster, Andrew Goodman, soon to join the Ireland set-up, has seen the hard