Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster believes that it made sense to rectify Robbie Henshaw’s wrist problem, with the centre set for another spell on the sidelines.
Henshaw is currently suffering from a hamstring injury, which kept him out of the majority of the recent Autumn Nations Series campaign.
With that issue set to continue into the new year, the 29-year-old has also looked to resolve another problem by having surgery on his wrist.
Optimistic
“His hamstring is on the mend as well so it’s going to be both at the same time type of thing. His wrist isn’t a major thing, but if the hamstring is going to keep him out we thought he might as well get the wrist done at the same time,” Lancaster told reporters.
Click Here: Roberto Firmino Jersey Sale
“We’re pretty optimistic he’s going to be back early in the new year. He’s certainly in good form, good spirits.”
Although Henshaw will miss the start of the Champions Cup, Lancaster expects him to return for the next batch of European matches in January.
“Obviously it’s disappointing to lose him for Europe, but he’ll be back hopefully for the following rounds in Europe. We have got the interpros post-Europe against Munster and Connacht,” he said.
“He should be back soon after that and we’ve obviously got Frawls [Ciaran Frawley] as well, who would be an option at 12, and Charlie Ngatai who is pretty adept.”
If fit, Henshaw will certainly be in the Ireland squad for the Six Nations and Lancaster hopes he is joined by fly-half Ross Byrne.
The playmaker has earned 15 caps since making his debut in 2018, but he has been in and out of the squad.
Prior to coming on against Australia in the Autumn Nations Series earlier this month, Byrne had not played for the national since March 2021.
The pivot certainly made the most of his opportunity, kicking a difficult winning penalty to help the Irish claim a 13-10 triumph over the Wallabies.
“As soon as he put the ball down I was absolutely confident that he would kick it,” Lancaster said. “I had no doubt. Hopefully it leads to more opportunities for him.”
Byrne has long been the understudy to Johnny Sexton at Leinster and for a period he did the same role with Leinster, but he has struggled to take his chances at the highest level.
The playmaker missed out on the 2019 World Cup after faltering in Ireland’s 57-15 defeat to England in a warm-up match.
“They obviously got smashed at Twickenham but how things have changed since then for Ireland,” Lancaster said.
“And for Ross himself. His consistency for Leinster, it can’t be questioned.”
All-round game
Lancaster believes that Byrne has what it takes to succeed at Test level having developed every aspect of his game over the years.
“He does everything really well,” he added.
“He makes the team tick, his core skills are very good – his passing, catching off both hands, his understanding of the game is excellent.
“He’s not a young player, he’s played for us in many big games. I’ve coached him now for seven years and he knows what I’m going to say before I even say it.
“We know each other that well, there are times when I’m thinking things in the box and he’s doing them on the field at the same time I’m thinking it.
“We’d be vary aligned in terms of how we see the game.
“He’s learned a huge amount from Johnny and so he’s had a great role model to follow – and he’s always had great people pushing him from behind, whether it’s Ciarán (Frawley) or Harry (Byrne, his brother) or Joey (Carbery) when he was here.”