IAIN HENDERSON IS not lying – he was 7-years-old when Ulster last beat Leinster in an away tie.
Reflecting on the victory, last weekend, over the reigning Heineken Cup champions, the 21-year-old forward is certain the result will spark an end of season push for silverware.
Henderson told TheScore.ie, “Growing up, I would have heard talk like ‘it’s going to be this year, it’s going to be this year’. There was a bit of chat about it but we made sure we went out and raised our intensity and that our game was the best it could be.
“It was brilliant to go down there and get the double over them this season. It was great. You never know, maybe we could get to see them again for the playoffs of the Rabo.”
The Craigavon native, who made his international breakthrough this season, took immense pleasure from the contribution of ‘one of my best friends’ Kyle McCall as he came on at tighthead prop to help Ulster to a 22-18 triumph.
“He did a good job with the scrums,” said Henderson, “towards the end, on our line. It was unbelievable.
He came on, this 21-year-old first capper, against Cian Healy and held our scrum well and didn’t give away penalties. It could easily have been a penalty try at the end there if he’d cracked.
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“Everyone ought into it and the defence was unbelievable. Kyle actually held up Sean Cronin for ‘no try’ at the end of the game.”
Doing the double of Leinster, adds Henderson, has made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.
Rapid ascent
Henderson made two appearances for Ulster last season and was offered a development contract before he set off for the U20 World Cup, under coach Mike Rodduck, in South Africa.
“I missed the first three matches of the season but got an opportunity in the Pro12, managed to play well enough,” he said.
“I got the call for our Heineken Cup games with Castres and Northampton and kicked off from there.”
He made his Ireland debut against the Springboks in November and has five caps to his name. “It would have been a lot harder,” recalls Henderson, “if I had come in on my own.
“When you have people like Dave Kilcoyne in for his first caps, and having Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall and Craig Gilroy there, it makes it a lot easier. It was a bit more comfortable and I absolutely loved it. I relished every opportunity.”
N.S on the shirts
The process of kicking on, he believes, is aided by daily training sessions alongside ‘world-class’ players like Johann Muller, John Afoa and Irish flanker Chris Henry.
A player who is still missed at the province’s training sessions is Nevin Spence. The promising centre passed away on 15 September last year after going to assist his stricken father in a slurry tank on the Spence family farm in Hillsborough.
“Nevin’s never going to be forgotten amongst the squad,” said Henderson. “He was a cornerstone of the squad. He always brought something different to training; always had a smiling face and be cracking jokes.”
Henderson added, “The ‘NS’ is still on the shirts and ‘GG’ [Physio Gareth Robinson] got a new physio bag with ‘Nevin Spence’ written along the side of it. He definitely won’t be forgotten.
“It hasn’t just blown over in a couple of months, it will always be there.”
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging Saracens v Ulster at Twickenham from 6pm this evening
'Nevin will never be forgotten' - Henderson plans winning tribute for Spence
IAIN HENDERSON IS not lying – he was 7-years-old when Ulster last beat Leinster in an away tie.
Reflecting on the victory, last weekend, over the reigning Heineken Cup champions, the 21-year-old forward is certain the result will spark an end of season push for silverware.
Henderson told TheScore.ie, “Growing up, I would have heard talk like ‘it’s going to be this year, it’s going to be this year’. There was a bit of chat about it but we made sure we went out and raised our intensity and that our game was the best it could be.
“It was brilliant to go down there and get the double over them this season. It was great. You never know, maybe we could get to see them again for the playoffs of the Rabo.”
The Craigavon native, who made his international breakthrough this season, took immense pleasure from the contribution of ‘one of my best friends’ Kyle McCall as he came on at tighthead prop to help Ulster to a 22-18 triumph.
“He did a good job with the scrums,” said Henderson, “towards the end, on our line. It was unbelievable.
“Everyone ought into it and the defence was unbelievable. Kyle actually held up Sean Cronin for ‘no try’ at the end of the game.”
Doing the double of Leinster, adds Henderson, has made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.
Rapid ascent
Henderson made two appearances for Ulster last season and was offered a development contract before he set off for the U20 World Cup, under coach Mike Rodduck, in South Africa.
“I missed the first three matches of the season but got an opportunity in the Pro12, managed to play well enough,” he said.
“I got the call for our Heineken Cup games with Castres and Northampton and kicked off from there.”
He made his Ireland debut against the Springboks in November and has five caps to his name. “It would have been a lot harder,” recalls Henderson, “if I had come in on my own.
“When you have people like Dave Kilcoyne in for his first caps, and having Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall and Craig Gilroy there, it makes it a lot easier. It was a bit more comfortable and I absolutely loved it. I relished every opportunity.”
N.S on the shirts
The process of kicking on, he believes, is aided by daily training sessions alongside ‘world-class’ players like Johann Muller, John Afoa and Irish flanker Chris Henry.
A player who is still missed at the province’s training sessions is Nevin Spence. The promising centre passed away on 15 September last year after going to assist his stricken father in a slurry tank on the Spence family farm in Hillsborough.
“Nevin’s never going to be forgotten amongst the squad,” said Henderson. “He was a cornerstone of the squad. He always brought something different to training; always had a smiling face and be cracking jokes.”
Henderson added, “The ‘NS’ is still on the shirts and ‘GG’ [Physio Gareth Robinson] got a new physio bag with ‘Nevin Spence’ written along the side of it. He definitely won’t be forgotten.
“It hasn’t just blown over in a couple of months, it will always be there.”
*TheScore.ie will be liveblogging Saracens v Ulster at Twickenham from 6pm this evening
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European Rugby Champions Cup forward Iain Henderson Ireland lock maketwickenhamhome Nevin Spence Rugby Saracens sarries Twickenham