Woodward spots Henson’s star status

Woodward flew to Rome yesterday knowing goal-kicking hero Gavin Henson is a future Lions star, and the former England boss was glowing in his assessment of the flamboyant Ospreys player.

“I went to Cardiff to watch Gavin in particular and he was outstanding, simple as that,” Woodward told the Daily Mirror. “He played brilliantly all round and I am very, very excited about working with him.”

Woodward never thought he would see the day when he left Cardiff a happy man after an England loss. Before his former team’s last RBS Six Nations visit to the Millennium Stadium he admitted he could not face going home if they lost. Yet after witnessing Henson’s all-action heroics his only thoughts were for what the flamboyant 23-year-old can do for the Lions in New Zealand this summer.

“Obviously I was disappointed for England but I am wearing a Lions hat now and to my mind Gavin made a big, big statement with that performance,” Woodward said. “He proved himself to be a very, very special player.

“He’s different, he’s got something about him. Like all great players he just seems to have time. Even in defence he had time to line his opponent up, he reminds me of Jonny Wilkinson in that. As for his goal kick, well he was never going to miss that, was he?!”