? Centre is expected to play against England on Saturday
? Says he 'wants to return to Wales for family reasons'
Gavin Henson appreciates that his ambition of playing in the World Cup hinges on how he performs in Wales's warm-up international campaign this month.
The 28-year old, who is in line to feature against England in Cardiff on Saturday, admits three other midfielders are ahead of him. "I know I need to do something special to make the World Cup squad," said Henson. "The boys did well against England at Twickenham and there is a huge competition for places. Given that I have not played much rugby in the last couple of years, it would be one of the biggest achievements of my career if I made it on to the plane to New Zealand."
Henson has only started four matches in more than two years after first being blighted by injury and then taking a sabbatical to help look after his two young children. He joined Saracens from Ospreys last autumn, but failed to make it at Vicarage Road before joining Toulon, who released him last May.
"I had a fair bit of time out and I have not got many games under my belt so if I do feature on Saturday I have to take the chance," said Henson, who made his international comeback against the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium last June. "I missed out on the 2003 and 2007 World Cups and that still hurts. I have to take that feeling into the game. It would not be the end of the world if I did not make it as I want to play for as long as I can, but it is up to me to force my way into the reckoning.
"I was not happy with the way I played against the Barbarians. I tried too hard to impress in training and I have learned from that. There are three centres ahead of me at the moment, it is fair to say, and I need to turn the tables, showing something a bit different. They are all very physical and have developed their games really well. They do not have many weaknesses.
"I need to show a lot of energy and prove a good link man in midfield, putting players through gaps and breaking the gainline myself, even scoring a few tries. Training with Wales has made me realise just how much I missed this environment. The fitness work has been tough, but we have all come through it and I hope it pays dividends. I am certainly raring to go."
Henson is currently without a club. He said he would wait to see whether he makes Wales's World Cup 30, which is due to be announced on 22 August, before deciding his future but wants to return to Wales and says he envisages playing well into his 30s.
"I want to come back for family reasons," he said. "I have always said that Ospreys would be my first choice if they want me back and they are certainly the first team I will speak to. I will sign for one of the Welsh regions: whether it is in a couple of weeks or after the World Cup depends on whether I go to New Zealand."
The Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins said Henson was not being treated as a special case. "We all know how much of a talent he is. He has not played a huge amount of rugby in the last couple of years but he is one of those players who takes to Test football like a duck to water. He gets on with it whatever happens around him.
"He will have seen how well the centres played at Twickenham last Saturday and he realises he is up against it with so many good players in the squad. If he has a chance this weekend, I am sure he will take it. He has a high profile, but to us he is Gav, one of the boys. The focus is on the game against England, not individuals."
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/aug/09/gavin-henson-wales-world-cup
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