Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw insists he isn’t too bothered whether he plays at 13 or 12 – and agrees with Brian O’Driscoll that the difference is just a number.
The Connacht star has been much-touted as Drico’s long-term successor at 13 for Ireland, but says his mentor is right in that if you can play at outside centre, moving inside isn't an issue.
“They’re just a number on the back,” the 21-year-old told Ger in and extensive interview on Off The Ball tonight, ahead of Ireland's Six Nations opener on Saturday. “Once you can play 13, you can play 12.
“That’s what Brian told me – my dad told me as well, but he didn’t really play in the backs. One slot in, and you literally do the same. When the play breaks down, it's into broken play and usually if it’s in defence your centres will be split so it’s not too much of a difference.
“In phase play in attack, it’s quite similar. You’re probably a little bit more of a distributor sometimes as well in play.”
Ireland's Simon Zebo (left) and Robbie Henshaw celebrate after beating Australia last November ©INPHO/James Crombie
The Westmeath man, despite being one of his county's main men ahead of the Six Nations, is managing an emerging professional rugby career with studying arts in NUI Galway, and says managing the two can be quite a challenge.
“I’m studying arts in NUI Galway,” Henshaw told Ger in an interview conducted at the Aviva Stadium last Friday, “doing economics this year, just kind of splitting my year half-and-half.
“It’s very tough because we’ve quite a long schedule in Connacht. It’s more or less and eight o’clock till five in the evening usually.
“Going from the rugby field to the library isn’t the most ideal. You’re quite drained physically and you have to go and look at the laptop and open up a few books. It’s quite tough.
"It’s quite hard to find parking spaces then you come out and your car might be clamped a couple of hours later.
“I certainly use my day usually off to try and get some study done and keep the brain ticking over.”
Henshaw also recalled how he chose rugby - having broken into the Irish schools team despite coming from Marist College in Athlone, hardly a stronghold of the oval ball - when a career in Gaelic football was beckoning.
He also outlined his own rugby lineage – from his father’s career at Buccaneers to his uncle also playing for Connacht, and admitted that his own fullback experience helps his reading of the game from centre.
And with the week that's in it, he elaborated on what it's like to be in the Ireland camp building up to the Six Nations.
You can listen to the full interview here:
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