SOS for Henson: Gavin is waltzing back to stop rot for Wales

By PETER JACKSON
Updated: 15:23 EDT, 28 November 2010

Wales raised the giddy prospect yesterday of Gavin Henson relaunching his alternative career without further delay, against England at the start of the Six Nations.

As the All Blacks flew home to declare another bejewelled Grand Slam at Auckland airport, Wales gave the neighbours early notice that their New Year reinforcements may include the prodigal son for the first time since he disappeared from the big stage almost two years ago.

Unusually, head coach Warren Gatland volunteered the information in support of his promise to stop the 12-month rot of two wins in 13.

Score woe: Mils Muliaina scores the All Blacks' second try in Cardiff but will Wales reinforcements be able to plug the defensive holes?

‘We have some key players, currently unavailable, who will be back to give us greater depth,’ he said, referring to a quartet of missing Lions.

‘There’s Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny, Shane Williams and the guy who does a bit of dancing.’

As soon as their renaissance man finishes Strictly Come Dancing, or they finish with him, he will revert to his new day job at Saracens, adamant about proving his readiness for national duty.

Wales, alone among the Six Nations in failing to claim a Southern Hemisphere scalp during a wasteful month of recurring blunders, cite the undeniable power of their front five and the English pack’s inability to cope with the Springboks as reasons for believing they will end their worst run for almost a decade on the first Friday in February.

‘England got battered by South Africa and we can take great confidence from how well our forwards have gone,’ Gatland said after watching Wales ‘rattle’ the Kiwis under skipper Matthew Rees.

Comeback: Gavin Henson, left, is set to return to the Wales squad for the Six Nations, as is Jamie Roberts

'We have improved massively since the Grand Slam of 2008, especially in our ability to compete up front.

‘We’ve got to keep being hard on ourselves. As Matthew said, we’ve got to be prepared to point fingers at each other and stop shooting ourselves in the foot.’

In that event, the most accusing ones would have been pointed at Lee Byrne.

In touch: The kicking of Stephen Jones looked like setting up a rare result

Twice the Lions full back missed touch from penalties, and New Zealand made him pay the maximum price of 14 points from converted tries finished off by two of their untouchables, Mils Muliaina and Hosea Gear.

Fingers would have been pointed, too, at others, among them Mike Phillips, guilty of expensively wayward kicks.

Then there were the missed tackles which allowed the All Blacks to make their flying start, by George North on Isaia Toeava for the first try and Dan Lydiate on Muliaina for the second at the start of a night when they threatened to run riot.

Wales never allowed that to happen, the sheer power of their pack forcing the best team in the world to scavenge for scraps.

The damage of the opening quarter had been repaired swiftly enough for Tom Shanklin’s lacerating runs to leave the All Blacks in a rare old state.

What happened in the 51st minute raised the fleeting possibility of New Zealand losing to a Welsh team for the first time since Llanelli in 1972.

Stephen Jones’ fourth penalty, a consequence of Irish referee Alan Lewis binning Daniel Braid, brought Wales to within a point against 14 men giving every impression of running out of steam when they had 15.

Wales had everything going for them, ferocious momentum on the pitch, a feverish crowd belting out Bread of Heaven and opponents becoming frayed around the edges at the end of 14 Tests in five months.

There was even the rare sight of Dan Carter getting into a fluster after toppling Jonny Wilkinson’s points record, and still Wales failed to drive the advantage home.

Wait: Wales flanker Andy Powell will learn today if he is to be cited for a high tackle on Richie McCaw

Richie McCaw’s refusal to buckle had a fair bit to do with it and they replied as only they could, using their fitness to plunder three more tries and teach their opponents what the word ruthless means.

Wales had at least given them a run for their money.

McCaw was the victim of a high tackle from Welsh flanker Andy Powell in the last minute and Powell will learn today if he is to be cited.

Match commissioner Rob Flockhart will make the decision after studying the tape.

Wales: Byrne; North, Shanklin, Hook (Bishop 77), T James; S Jones, Phillips (R Rees 78); Jenkins (P James 78), M Rees (capt) (Bennett 78), A Jones; Davies, A-W Jones; Lydiate (Thomas 49), R Jones (Powell 49), Warburton (Williams 74). Try: Byrne. Con: S Jones. Pens: S Jones (6).

New Zealand: Muliaina; Toeava, Smith, Williams (Nonu 49), Gear; Carter (Donald 77), Cowan (Ellis 77); Woodcock, Mealamu (Hore 74), Franks (Afoa 62); Thorn, Whitelock (Boric 54); Kaino, Read (Braid 36), McCaw (capt). Tries: Gear (2), Muliaina, Toeava, Afoa. Cons: Carter (3). Pens: Carter (2).

Yellow card: Braid.
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland).
Attendance: 74,000.