Henshaw: 'If I am called upon I'll be ready'

Robbie Henshaw says he isn't worried about his lack of game-time ahead of his possible return to the Ireland team for next week's Guinness Six Nations Round 4 meeting with Scotland at Murrayfield.

The 29-year-old has missed the opening three games of the championship due to a wrist injury, while a previous hamstring injury means he's played just four minutes of rugby since late October.

The centre was released back to Leinster for this week's BKT United Rugby Championship game away to Edinburgh on Saturday, and trained with the province on Monday ahead of potentially getting some game-time against the Scottish side.

However, a calf injury for Stuart McCloskey has seen Henshaw brought back into the Irish squad for this week's mini-camp, where he trained fully in Thursday's open session at the Aviva Stadium.

With McCloskey and Garry Ringrose both carrying knocks into next week's Round 4 tie at Murrayfield, Henshaw could go straight into the Ireland squad after more than three months out.

And if that happens, he says he's shown in the past he can step straight back into Test rugby from long layoffs.

"There were chats... there were chats to go into Leinster at the start of the week and see how Monday went," he said.

Henshaw hasn't played since Ireland's Autumn Nations Series win against Fiji in November

"I did a pitch session there, and there were a few changes throughout the day and I was called in to train today. It's positive because I got three good sessions under my belt for the week, and I'll be able to train again on the weekend. It's looking positive for the next few weeks.

"All I can do is come into camp next week and see what happens, put my head down, train well please God, and see what happens.

"Looking at history and past experiences, if I am called upon I'll be ready, I've done it in the past where I've come back home from a long-term injury and had to step up. If it happens, it happens, and if not, it doesn't."

In Henshaw's absence Ireland have still impressed, with McCloskey and Bundee Aki linking up well with Ringrose in midfield.

And Henshaw admits it's been bittersweet seeing how well Ireland have played without him.

"It's tough, but it makes it more exciting when you come back, you bounce on to the pitch and pinch yourself when you come back in and are enjoying it. It's great to be back in.

"Just be patient. Just keep doing the right things, and bringing a positive attitude to training, come in with a smile on your face and enjoy it. Anything can happen in sport, injuries can happen and you just have to be ready."

Depending on results elsewhere, Ireland could be crowned champions with a game to spare if they can secure a bonus-point win against the Scots, who suffered their first defeat of the campaign on Sunday when they were beaten 32-21 by France in Paris.

Gregor Townsend's side would be right back in title contention with a win against Ireland at Murrayfield though, which would also see them claim a first Triple Crown since 1990.

"I mean, we're not going to lie, it's been a tough place, we've always had really tough battles up there.

"We're going to have to be across our work physically, it'll be tough physically. The Scotland team will bring emotion and at Murrayfield with their home crowd, it's a cauldron-like atmosphere. We're going to have to be ready for that emotion, physicality and we're going to have to play our game.

"Their attacking threats out wide, with Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg, Duhan van der Merwe and then their physical pack, you can't underestimate their strength up front. We need to be across it, both physically and mentally and their speed on the outside will challenge us."

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