Jordie Barrett can drive Robbie Henshaw to new heights as he targets a third World Cup
Robbie Henshaw explains why he chose not to take up offers from abroad and why the arrival of All Blacks star Jordie Barrett is something to embrace, even though the Kiwi wants his No.12 jersey
Robbie Henshaw insists that Jordie Barrett will drive him on to new heights as the Leinster star targets a third World Cup finals.
Henshaw, 31, has signed a new two-year IRFU that will keep him at the province until the 2027-28 season. He had been linked to Toulon and Toulouse in the French media but the 77-times capped centre was happy to stay put at the club that he signed for from Connacht in 2016.
"You never really think about it but when you do get word it’s nice to hear that there's other interest, yeah," admitted Henshaw. "It was kind of more down to how performance was going for me, where I stood within the team and how I was getting on in the team.
READ MORE:Rising Ireland star ready for Leinster return against Munster at Thomond Park
READ MORE: Jordie Barrett admits he is targeting one jersey above all as he praises Leinster's new 10
"That ultimately made my decision over the last three years, if I was getting the best out of me so thankfully throughout my career I’ve managed to play a lot of games and be involved in a lot of great moments in great teams. So my decisions over the last few years have made it easy to stay."
He'll have his work cut out to keep his usual No.12 jersey for the rest of this season, however, following the arrival of Barrett. The All Blacks star has made it clear that his preferred position is inside centre and he has been outstanding in his performances thus far.
"Yeah, we’ve a world class player and he has come in and has brought serious value to the team, and I think you see from his performances when he has come on, immediately he’s been brilliant," smiled Henshaw.
But the 95-times capped Leinster back is excited by the challenge. "It's great," he stated. "It will hopefully up my game, raise my game and it will make Leinster stronger as well. So it's all positive."
Playing for Ireland, says the five-times Six Nations winner, is "absolutely top of the list" of the reasons not to move abroad. "You want to play for Ireland for as long as you can," said Henshaw. "It's such a special group we have at the moment, what we’ve done the last few years and what we’ve managed to achieve.
"Looking back, from going on tour to New Zealand to the two Six Nations wins, it's been a great journey. As a player, if you're involved in that group you always want to be involved and to stay, it’s so positive and it’s a special environment to be a part of. That’s the goal for me, to stay at home for as long as I can and play while the body is good.
"Speaking to older players who have retired you come to make a decision when you know when your body is done. As long as I’m fit and in good form, I'll always like to be involved."
Henshaw had injury troubles to contend with at the World Cups in Japan and France and he would love to go out on the high of breaking through Ireland's quarter-final glass ceiling at the next finals in Australia in 2027.
"Yeah, absolutely," he said. "It’s something that every player wants to be involved in. I know it’s a long way away for me but yeah, if I can stay fit and keep playing good rugby, I can't see why I can't have that as a goal to go towards. It will definitely be in the list of goals, long term.
"That’s the way we are driven as players and being in the high performance environment, how quickly you have to change week to week - a new challenge every week but also the goal at the end of the year and to win trophies.
"For us here in Leinster, it's chasing the fifth star (in Europe) and that’s top priority for us. We’re always been so driven and me personally, I’m definitely driven to achieve those goals."
Henshaw last lined out at Thomond Park, where Leinster face Munster on Friday, three years ago. It's always a brilliant fixture to be involved in, it's one of the best stadiums to play in at club level as well, just the atmosphere is incredible," he said.
"I've not been involved the last few years so it's nice to hopefully be playing this week and experiencing a packed out Thomond Park."
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