or to join or start a new Discussion

23 Comments
Article Rating     Not Rated Yet

Sorry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17575844

I actually only noticed the headline scanning through planetrugby. Speechless. Can't really put into words how disappointed I am.

Wanted him to turn things around, but think he's thrown it all away. Again.

I know he annoys a lot of people. He's bugged me on more than a few occasions. I'd love to talk the pros and cons of his skills and performances, but it is now at the point where they pale into comparison to the wasted potential and media presence he drums up (either by choice, or by silly actions like this or his behaviour on the train a few years back, in Cardiff City Centre a year or so after that, at Toulon etc.)

But anyway, sorry to the people who really don't want to talk about him ever. And to the people who do take an interest in his career, I'm sorry that the news is as bad as we should have come to expect. Overall, a very sorry subject in general.

comment by gecko (U8371)

posted on 2/4/12

Well that was certainly a swift and decisive response. I can't say I don't agree wholeheartedly with it though. He's had so many last chances, I think the real shame is he didn't get this wake up call earlier in his career. Odds on him signing with another club are very slim now. At least at the professional level.

Ding, I agree. The autobiography in 05 was when he first put a lot of people's backs up.

SARS, yup. I've always felt that he was a nice guy, who just didn't know how to handle the limelight and girls. I reckon it was Charlotte Church who got him into the media world, and that he's not over her and keeps trying to raise his media profile for her sake. That's my take on it anyway.

Sorry for the psuedo-psychoanalysis. Sadly it doesn't look like we'll be doing any more analysis of his rugby.

posted on 2/4/12

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

posted on 2/4/12

Actually, thats harsh. I just hate that professional sportsmen think they gods gift to the world, imagine if he had an ordinary 9-5, would he have been given the chances he has?

posted on 4/4/12

Edins
"if he had an ordinary 9-5, would he have been given the chances he has?"

LMAO. thats such a simple but effective question! How many teams has he let down in his career? I would say if u multiply that number by 3 or 4 you would be getting close the the number of times he would have been fired from McDonalds

P.S. Sry Gecko, i know we are being harsh here, but its an easy target.

comment by gecko (U8371)

posted on 4/4/12

No worries lads, I agree with what most people are saying. I think he's just simple and I hate the situation we're in now.

Now his career will fade to nothing but media snapshots, its easy to forget how good a player he was. Not the best in the world. But aside from not having Usain Bolt pace, nor Quade Cooper trickery, he had a very full arsenal in attack and defence. He was a good runner, picked good angles with good footwork, challenged defenders with his deceptive (honest!) pace, had beautiful distribution skills, was a hefty unit in midfield to bosh the ball up, or bosh an attacker back, had a cannon of a boot, and whilst tbh I think his defence was somewhere inbetween decent and as excellent as Gatland made out, you cant add many more qualities to a centre.

But he was sorely lacking mentally. For the prime of his career, he only wanted to play 12, or 10. If he was played further out he would strop on the field. He was disinterested in defence at full-back. I could cite the example of the poor attempt of a tackle on Tommy Bowe in 2009, and say that was characteristic of Henson playing 'out of position' (from his perspective). There were times when he was substituted and he looked relieved.

I don't want to bang on. We all know his faults. I just don't think its right that we forget his qualities and say he only contributed one penalty kick and tackle. If only by honestly assessing his past performances we can understand why so many people are disappointed in him.

I don't disagree with the Blues sacking him. Is it harsh for a first offence? I don't think so. If the player is joining under review, and on top of this has a history, how many chances do you give him? I mean, honestly, I think if he was just let off with a fine and a suspension, he'd do it again, probably next year. He's averaged an incident every year or two of playing hasn't he?

I think he should have been sacked from the Ospreys. Or Saracens. Toulon. You don't learn if there are no consequences. He should have been directed to treatment. Or mentored by a non-drinking or more responsible buddy. What if he was raised better into adulthood to drink more responsibly? Converted to Mormonism? Who knows now? We'll never find out.

posted on 5/4/12

Gecko, ye but no but ye but no... He's too old to mentored by an older buddy really. and he's been too old for that for about 7 years lol. I guess its like this, If a team are paying him a big salary, they in turn can expect to be paying for a professional. And they should not be worried about babysitting him.

I mean, I get paid every month but if i started asking for help getting up out of bed in the morning or to not go straight to the pub after work every night, i would expect to get the boot right quick.

Anyway, been saying this for years on the old 606 but now, surly this is the end of this affair with him, no? Im sure this has got to be it. Done and Dusted as they say.

comment by gecko (U8371)

posted on 5/4/12

Yeah, I'd say the fat lady has sung now.

As far as the mentoring thing goes, I'm not sure it relates to age - I was thinking more along the lines of how it works in the AA or other support groups. He should have been directed to something like that anyway, much sooner. He doesn't have the emotional intelligence and maturity to look after himself.

posted on 6/4/12

but that sort of points the finger at substance abuse as being the cause f his downfall. And really, i dont think he had a history if that until recently. In fact, im not sure thats an excuse at all. I mean clearly he cant handle a few beers without turning into a clown, but has he got a drinking problem? no i dont think so. he has his own internal demons and i think it does him no favours to point the finger out outside influences like his EX or beer or anything else. Its all about him.

Like u said. "He doesn't have the emotional intelligence and maturity to look after himself."

I think that sums him up quite well right there

comment by gecko (U8371)

posted on 6/4/12

Hats off to Peter Thomas, talking a lot of sense:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17637083

comment by CSTP (U1453)

posted on 11/4/12

Sign in if you want to comment
RATE THIS ARTICLE
Rate Breakdown
5
0 Votes
4
0 Votes
3
0 Votes
2
0 Votes
1
0 Votes

Average Rating: 0 from 0 votes

ARTICLE STATS
Day
Article RankingNot Ranked
Article ViewsNot Available
Average Time(mins)Not Available
Total Time(mins)Not Available
Month
Article RankingNot Ranked
Article ViewsNot Available
Average Time(mins)Not Available
Total Time(mins)Not Available