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8
ULSTER
RUGBY
www.
ulster
rugby.com
He says: “It has been frustrating watching
the highs and lows this season, but injuries
are unfortunately now part and parcel of the
game. I feel absolutely fantastic. I have been
training over the past few weeks and I have
been itching to get back. I have been trying
to persuade the physiotherapists and the
strength and conditioning staff to let me play -
but this week is the right week.”
In terms of opposition, taking on Leicester
Tigers, the most famous name in English
rugby, is a formidable reintroduction back into
the game. However, Iain says that he can’t wait
to get involved:
“Europe is gone now but we don’t want to
lose at home,” Iain says. “Leicester are a big
physical team and we want to take it to them
up front. They are a big set piece orientated
team and they will be looking to out-scrum us
and beat us at the lineout. We just need to be
ready for it and we are ready for it. Despite the
result against Toulon our scrum and our set
piece was actually very good. We just need to
build on that and get some good quality ball
for our backs who will hopefully score a few
tries.”
There has been criticism of the team in
recent weeks from sections of the media, but
Henderson is quick to back Head Coach,
Neil Doak and says that as players, they must
shoulder the blame for performances:
“We are always 100% behind Doaky,” Iain says
without any hesitation. “You can put blame
on injuries but going forward we know the
mistakes that we have made and we can only
learn from our past games and better where
we have gone wrong against Scarlets and
Leicester.”
With European qualification over, there is only
pride on the line for Ulster tonight. Iain says
that the side are now fully focused on the
Guinness PRO12 and he believes that it could
yet be a successful league season for Ulster:
“Firstly, we are aiming to get a win this
weekend, Iain says. “We are 5th in the league
and with a couple of bonus point wins we
could be top with all to play for. Someone
threw out a stat earlier that we have scored
four more tries this season that we had at the
same stage last year. We have all to play for in
the Guinness PRO12 and there is no reason
why we can’t do a job there.”
With Iain Henderson back in the side, anything
is possible.
Amid all the bad news regarding injuries, there is at
least one positive story from the rehab room this week.
Ireland international, Iain Henderson, plays his first game
of the season tonight. It is a timely return for the versatile
forward and he says that after seven months on the
sidelines, he can’t wait to get back to the action:
IAIN HENDERSON
IAIN HENDERSON:
IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK