posted Oct 10, 2008

Bishop is a v solid defender , doesn;t offer a great deal in attack but with hook and bowe outside him that shouldn;t be a major problem.
granted henson is a lot more talented but last sunday he didn;t seem match fit and away to leicester is no place to be unless your 100% fit.

I don;t see it as that much of a blow if im honest, henson performances for wales have been better than his displays in an ospreys jersey in recent years

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posted Oct 10, 2008

JB get on the blower and find out from that contact of yours whats going on

I agree he was poor last week but missing two games like this is not going to improve his match form.We need him in the Wales squad next month and we need him to be at his very best.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Yes he does perform better for Wales. I don't see why they'd ban him though and not say why.

If he weren't match fit, he could of been dropped to the bench instead of this ban. It's ruined his hopes for the Autumn now. Ospreys get a head coach!

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Any oppinions on whether this lack of game time is likely to effect his selection or form for Wales - haven't seen him play yet, is he in good form & fitness?

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posted Oct 10, 2008

He hasn't shone in the 2 games he has played and it would take a couple more games to get match fit. It will be hard for him to be fuly match fit for the start of the AI's now. It will be intersting to see if Gatland picks him.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I think Henson is quite overrated to be honest. He's living off that tackle on Matthew Tait back in 2005. You may find that theo spreys play better without his shadow hanging over them.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

How many chances is he going to get? I really thought he'd turned a corner but obviously not. I know we don't know what he's done but given his past his behaviour should have been exemplary. Especially at such a pivotal point in his career.

Let's wait until the facts are available before making a final verdict but if I were Welsh and an 'O's' fan I'd be pretty cheesed off with him.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I'd prefer Biggar, Hook, Bowe - especially as Leicester are without a proven 7.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

And the prize for most unoriginal comment in a rugby thread goes to .........................

comment by Intl Wookie Hunter says "Who watches the Watchmen?" (U7157293)
posted 8 Minutes Ago

I think Henson is quite overrated to be honest. He's living off that tackle on Matthew Tait back in 2005.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Quote:
Henson not deemed fit enough/sharp enough to even be considered in the 22 for the Leicester game.

Told to go train with & play for Swansea this Saturday - Henson doesn't turn up to train with Swansea.

Ospreys discpline follows.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Bishop had a good game at Twickenham against the Tigers last season, and he and Bowe are two first class players, and with Hook alongside will certainly not be overshadowed by the rather one-dimensional Leicester midfield.
I don't think it will hurt Henson or the Ospreys one bit. Might even work in their favour looking ahead to the more important rugby later in the season.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

If it's true that his suspension is due to the fact he felt he was too important to train with Swansea he deserves the suspension. He's lucky Wales are so desperate for someone to play 12 imo.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

"I think Henson is quite overrated to be honest. He's living off that tackle on Matthew Tait back in 2005."

How many times are we going to hear this sort of garbage. OK he's banned for two weeks, and as yet the Ospreys haven't said why. But Heson rubbish? Do these people bother to watch anything but the excitement of a try.

Henson works hard, makes play, and when going in for a tackle push the opponent back 2 meters before they fall to ground. Constantly pushing forward the defensive line the guy, if you bother to watch, can deliver a master class. What next - only in the Welsh squad because Gatland likes his hair style? I somehow don't think so.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

comment by beaucastel (U2884363)
posted 22 Minutes Ago

Just picked this up from a Welsh Rugby Board.

Quote:
Henson not deemed fit enough/sharp enough to even be considered in the 22 for the Leicester game.

Told to go train with & play for Swansea this Saturday - Henson doesn't turn up to train with Swansea.

Ospreys discpline follows
--------------
If thats the case then why play him last week.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I still think Henson will get selected as part of the 30 man squad for the AI's, but he won't start against SA, Roberts will. Henson may be given a go against Canada to prove himself worthy.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Good to see that people have cherry picked the negative out of my post and ignored the fact that I did say the Ospreys will probably be better without him.

Facists!!!

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posted Oct 10, 2008

New Inn John

I never said he was rubbish, just overrated. Some people are so sensitive.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

He is kinda overrated, but he'll do well in the Welsh jersey. Most other 12's cannont match his skills. But half the time, he doesn't seem interested in the Ospreys - and as it was pointed out he does always hover on the side of rucks. It's like he just stands there trying to make his shoulders look massive.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Do what Gatland did - Give him a responsibility within the ospreys like defencive captain.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

If he is not match fit, then these two weeks away from the Ospreys could be used to get game time with one of the region's premiership teams.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

comment by Troopthecolour-bornagain-CYMROGLAN (U12676803)

posted 1 Hour Ago

---------------

comment by beaucastel (U2884363)
posted 22 Minutes Ago

Just picked this up from a Welsh Rugby Board.

Quote:
Henson not deemed fit enough/sharp enough to even be considered in the 22 for the Leicester game.

Told to go train with & play for Swansea this Saturday - Henson doesn't turn up to train with Swansea.

Ospreys discpline follows
--------------
If thats the case then why play him last week.

-------------------------

Because all the good teams play second-string sides in the EDF.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

This would in part appear to corroborate the missed training story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ospreys/7662829.stm

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posted Oct 10, 2008

He must have done something seriously stupid to be dropped like this, and so publicly too!
"Rugby related disciplinary decisions"...
LOL

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posted Oct 10, 2008

It must be a quite serious discipline issue for the Ospreys to ban him for 2 important games, and also know the consequences of what this will do to the Wales squad.

Why is it with him that just as you think it will be OK this time he does something stupid.

How ironic that it was after playing against the Quins last year that he got into trouble on the train on the way home with his mates, so lets hope it doesnt happen every time he plays against the Quins

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posted Oct 10, 2008

The story seems to be that when he was told the team for Sundays game he was unhappy that he hadn't made the squad and when told to play for swansea tomorrow he blew a gasket, big time. That's when the coaches slapped a two week ban on him.

How long will he be an Ospreys player now? Will he stay in Wales ?

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posted Oct 10, 2008

major loss for us for sunday , biggar at 10 , hook 12 , 13 bowe. but i can see them playing bishop at 13 , does anybody rate that bishop or isit just me who thinks he souldnt be playing with the ospreys?

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posted Oct 10, 2008

So Henson is not match fit and doesn't train for a semi pro team.
From passed history Henson needs to be loved ie Ruddock and Gatland, showing Henson the whip gets the wrong responds.

If you look at football Torres for Liverpool was late returning from the Euro champs, unfit in the first 6 games, but they did not send him to play for Acrington Stanley.
He started or was sub and his fitness was unproved.

From what I saw of Henson on TV last week he was one of the few Ospreys who looked anything.

The Ospreys management has been a shambles since Hoare took over, great fitness coach but unproven as a Director of Rugby

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I can't really understand why he didn't play for Swansea, Neath or Bridgend before returning against Ulster, after all regional rugby was concieved to concentrate the best players into 5 now 4 teams, therefore if a player was not playing regularly or indeed was on his way back from injury, could get some game time before playing for the region.

If the story is true about him blowing a gasket when told to play for Swansea he needs a big kick in the arse, and needs to get his head out of the clouds.

I am a fan of Hensons as he has a genuine talent and last season looked excellant straightening the line and his distribution was second to none, i just dont understand his attitude, at times he is just a primadona

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Not a Welshman mind, but from what I see on Scrum V isn't it the form in Wales that players returning from injury/not fully match fit play a game or two with a Premiership team?

A specific example being Henson's colleague Richard Hibbard recently? Good enough for him, but not Henson it seems.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

"If he weren't match fit, he could of been dropped to the bench instead of this ban."

It's one thing to have bad English in user posts but to have it in the main news article on the sport webpage is inexcusable.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Great player but my god what an ego. Another team spirit lifting classic from Gav. He'll have a new book out next.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Henson has dressing down after the quins game "management Feedback". Then has a strop "additional Unauthorised leave" about the criticism.

Was substituted very soon after showing Epi Taione the freedom of Swansea...

Connected?

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posted Oct 10, 2008

If he wasn't fit enough for the match then he shouldn't have been in the squad. End of. Theres a lot of competition at the O's and so it was up to him to perform in training... and if he was down compared to his rivals then its only fair that they get the starting spot.

The fact he refused to go to play against Brigend at the Brewery Field for Swansea tomorrow just shows that he thinks too much of himself. Shame on him. I know the Whites vs Brigend aint the HC but a good performance in one of the Welsh Premiership seasons more intense matches and good training next week would've got him back in contention for the next HC match, with obvious positive knock on effects for the AI's.

As someone just said "Great player but my god what an ego"

Lol. A lions 10-12 axis of Cips and Henson. Lol. There would be no space on the pitch for the other 28 players as those 2 egos would swipe the pitch.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

ohh well atleast we know he didn't get a ban for hitting one of his team mates. that's the main thing.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

just heard this henson off to newcastle,they need backup for poor old johnie.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Spot on. Henson can hit you like a train, but his record of missing anyone who doesn't follow the predicted path - or blatantly shoulder charging opponents - is bad. I wouldn't want to see that at Welford Road!
If we give in to his 'rattle out of the pram' stuff, it's because Wales is desperate for a good No.12, not because we should let him get away with it.
He's one of the best No.12s in the world; when will he grow up and realise his potential?

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Its just one thing after another with that boy.

Hes a fantastic talent but his attitude is apalling and he has really really damaged our chances of beating the Tigers.

Bad news for Ospreys and Welsh rugby.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I cant understand what facets of his game were so badly awry last week?

The bottom line is that the Ospreys are tactically inept and Hooks constant meandering and inability to play Henson or the other strike runners into the game is punishing them. This needs to be addressed or Hook will find Stephen Jones retaining the No 10 jersey for Wales.

They have no patience or direction and and their gameplan hasnt changed since Lyn went.

Scapegoating GH for a poor team performance in a game in which he was unable to exert any influence seems counter productive to me. To say he is childish isnt right, as hes just issued a statement accepting his punishment, but for me the root cause lies with the management.

A genuine Head Coach is required - and soon.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I would have guessed that something like a "suspension" was bound to happen to Mr. Henson as his "body language"when playing for the Ospreys show somebody less than enthusiastic for his job. i am told by the experts i.e. that GH can be the best player in the world in his position. I'll take it on trust that he has the talent but he does seem particular slow which when playing the best in the world i.e Southern Hemisphere countries on good ground would showhim up. If I remember he did a "pout"when not selected for the British Lions test team and was severely criticised by Paul Ackford in the Sunday Telegraph at the time. When you think players at Welsh level are now receiving circa £150K (so were told) how many games has he played over the last 5 years. In talking to several people about the Ospreys game with Harlequins quite a few thought he had gone off at half time as he was anonymous in the second half.I would suggest that the WRU ask Sir Alec Ferguson how he has managed overpaid soccer players for 20 years. In conclusion if the management at Ospreys didnt want him for two vital games that if they lose will destroy this season in reality then they must have very good reasons. Perhaps the other players who were playing to their ability were not happy.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I would start with Biggar at 10 with Hook at 12 aswell but it wont happen

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Seems to me if Henson is not fit, he should be on the bench get on in the last 20-25 mins
The Ospreys must be unbelievably good not to have him in the 22.

The whole of Wales knows Henson needs to be wanted and loved and the OSpreys management don;t have multiple management styles. The owners will not be happy

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Surely it's now time for the Ospreys to unveil their new coach.Untill they do we will see this sort of incident again & again. Everone knows Henson believes he's the best rugby player the world has ever seen, but he's got a point. What we all saw in the last six nations is that with the right man telling him his role in the team, he's second to none.
His talent is unquestionable.Anyone who doesn't believe that hasn't played the game !
Henson & the Ospreys need someone in charge now.
As a fan, I'd like to have somebody to blame for a poor performance or to laud for a fine one.Every week on Scrum V they wheel out someone different.I've heard next week it's one of the caterers ( at least that will spare us having to listen to that idiot Cuddy again ).
Untill we have a real hard taskmaster at the Ospreys that elusive European Cup will reamin but a dream.
P.S. If Cuddy does want people to actually turn up to watch 'his' team, try dropping the price !!

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posted Oct 10, 2008

He has the talent, of that there is no doubt. When his brain manages to catch up with it, I'm sure we'll end up having a more mature player.

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posted Oct 10, 2008

I think the idea was to have him on the bench lads but thats when the bust up occured.

i agree we need a new head coach asap there must be a lead figure at the club and its worrying for fans and players alike imo

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posted Oct 10, 2008

Although the suspension is obviously deserved, as Henson himself acknowledges, the man management that gave him such adverse feedback, in only his second game back after a long period out with an injury, seems lacking!
I guess he will be wanting to move on from the Ospreys, and he is good enough to have a few choices of a new home!

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posted Oct 12, 2008

If you look at Henson's career you will find a number of incidents where he has behaved in a juvenile manner. It would appear that he still has not got an understanding of what is expected of an international player. There have been some comments which appear to condemn the Ospreys coaches for their reaction and suggestions that Henson might retaliate by leaving.

I've got news for him; in the outside world the discipline code will be even more rigorous. The problem is entirely in Henson's head. Welsh ‘wunderkind’ does not have much currency outside of Wales!!!

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posted Oct 13, 2008

I'm stunned by lack of understanding from my Welsh compatriots. The contribution Henson makes during a game is crucial in terms of his defensive organizational skills and the way he sets Wales up in attack. Thank God Gaitland understands this and will always play him when he's fit. I'm not bothered about the Ospreys but their decision is self-defeating; the best way to get the best out of Henson is play him all the time at inside centre and keep him fit and sharp. This will delay his progress and the Ospreys (and Wales)season will suffer as a consequence. Also the point about him having no reputation outside Wales thats just plan stupid. If the Ospreys decide to let him go then just watch how quickly he snapped up by the Guiness premiership or in France. I would actually advocate all Welsh players who are consistently playing for the National side, to leave the regions and ply their trade in France or England. This would exclude English and French players from their key sides and allow the next generation to come through.

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posted Oct 13, 2008

I would actually advocate all Welsh players who are consistently playing for the National side, to leave the regions and ply their trade in France or England.

a) this would weaken our region
b) they would also refuse permission for players to attend training camps and some test games (see the scottish issue at the moment)

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posted Oct 14, 2008

I completely agree about the man management skills. You need to know your man and sadly, although I think Gavin is an excellent rugby player, he is immature and needs a lot of praise and encouragement. I don't think he is arrogant, just insecure. I believe that Gatland understands the psychology of Henson and deals with him accordingly.

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posted Oct 15, 2008

Henson needs to grow up, stop acting like a spoilt child, and sort himself out.
He's got the talent, now he needs to get the mentality.

End of.

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