Henson, having last started a game for Wales against Australia in November 2006 in Cardiff, hopes to relaunch his international career against the world champion Springboks on Saturday and knows all about the threat of South Africa having twice played against them in 2004.
Now the Ospreys centre is looking to give new Wales Coach Warren Gatland a timely reminder of his talents as he goes head to head with South Africa’s World Cup winning midfield in the inaugural Prince William Cup clash tomorrow.
“I can’t think of a better place to make my return for Wales than at the Millennium Stadium,”said Henson. “It’s a special place to play rugby and with more than 50,000 fans already booked in to watch us the atmosphere is going to be fantastic.
“The Springboks are arriving on the back of their win over England in the World Cup Final at a packed Stade de France, but if we get a full house on Saturday then the occasion will be just as intense.
“It’s been a long road back for me from a number of injuries but the one thing that has always spurred me on has been the thought of pulling on the Welsh jersey again. One big thrill for me is to actually start the game after winning five of my last six caps as a replacement and I just can’t wait for Saturday to come around now.
“I’m happy with the progress I’ve been making at the Ospreys and it’ll be great to be lining up alongside my regional teammates, James Hook and Sonny Parker. We’re developing a sound relationship, but this game will test us to the full.
“The challenges don’t come much bigger than playing against the newly crowned world champions. The fact they’ll have their complete World Cup winning three-quarter line on display means we’re going to have our work cut out.
“Even so we will go into the game with confidence high and its going to be an important stepping stone for us all before the new coach takes over next month.”
Wales: Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Blues); James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets); Gethin Jenkins (Blues, capt), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys)
Replacements: T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Alix Popham (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Tom James (Blues)
South Africa: Ruan Pienaar; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Andre Pretorius, Ricky Januarie; Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Johann Muller, Bakkies Botha; Jannie Du Plessis, John Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Heinke van der Merwe, Albert van den Berg, Hilton Lobberts, Wynand Olivier, Conrad Jantjes, Akona Ndungane
Ticket sales are going well for the inaugural Prince William Cup match between Wales and South Africa. If you want to be part of a very special occasion then tickets are available to personal callers only to the WRU Ticket Shop (98, St Mary Street, Cardiff), Friday 9am-7pm and on Saturday from 9am to kick off.
Tickets, priced at £20, £40, £45, £50 and £60 for this unique match against the reigning World Champions, will also be available on Saturday from the Cardiff Blues Ticket Office from 9am to kick off and from booths around the Millennium Stadium from 9am to kick off.
