Robbie Henshaw not worried about Andy Farrell's Ireland absence

Michael Bolton

Ireland and Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw says he is not concerned about Ireland’s performance during the Six Nations under the temporary leadership of defence coach Simon Easterby, as head coach Andy Farrell prepares to take charge of the British and Irish Lions this summer in Australia.

Easterby, who has been part of Ireland’s coaching setup since 2014, has twice managed Emerging Ireland on tours to South Africa.

Henshaw expressed confidence in Easterby’s ability to lead the team as Ireland aims for a third consecutive Six Nations title, starting with England’s visit to the Aviva Stadium on February 1st.

“We really respect him as a coach. He’s done unbelievable things for our defence and for the forwards when he was there," said Henshaw.

“It’s exciting because he’s been there for a long time, and he knows the group really well. And there’s that continuity—he’s been there with Andy before.

“It’s hugely exciting for Simon as well. He takes a good few of our meetings and has been a big voice within the team. It’s great that there’s a bit of continuity."

Ireland's last games came in November, where they won three out of four tests. However, a defeat to New Zealand and some underwhelming performances sparked conversations around their form.

While opponents in the Six Nations may take encouragement from Ireland's displays, Henshaw focused on the positives.

“We did well to get three wins from four. We definitely could have had four from four, but for us, we were playing tough opposition—New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and Fiji.

“It was positive in terms of the players involved; we played some good rugby at times. There’s always room for improvement. Some of the games we played against tough defences and strong attacks as well.

“We just have to take the learnings from it all and move into the Six Nations with confidence.”

Henshaw’s season has been equally positive at club level, as part of a Leinster team that remains unbeaten in both the URC and Champions Cup this season.

Their latest victory was a hard-fought 16-14 battle against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle, showcasing the team’s resilience.

A key aspect of Leinster’s success has been their defence, shaped by the influence of coach Jacques Nienaber.

“He’s a brilliant coach, and he always loves debating and talking about things we can change, get better at, and bring into his system," said Henshaw.

“It’s always evolving, and he’s always open to a chat like that. He’s a brilliant coach to work under.

“I think it’s all-in—everyone has to buy into the system. You have to cover each other no matter what, so I think everyone has to commit.

“It’s been a change in what we know and how we’ve been coached previously. It’s come really good this year. We’ve got over the learning phase, and it’s become more instinctive to us.

“It’s such an exciting thing to be involved in. We enjoy the system, and it’s brilliant."