Henson out of Springboks clash

Gavin Henson has withdrawn from the Wales team for the rugby international against South Africa on Saturday due to a nagging ankle injury.

The injury-prone centre, whose seven-year Welsh career has been dogged by a raft of differing injuries and who has only played three games since his comeback from ankle surgery, will be replaced by Tom Shanklin.

Shanklin will slot into the outside centre spot with fellow Cardiff Blue Jamie Roberts shifting into his preferred inside centre position.

Andrew Bishop takes Shanklin’s place on the replacements’ bench.

“Gavin decided to tell us after the training session that mentally and physically he was not going to be ready for the game,” tactics coach Rob Howley said.

“We wanted to leave that decision down to Gavin Henson. He’s a mature enough person to make that decision.

“The problem has been niggling him and he wanted to be 100 percent, and he’s obviously not feeling 100 percent.”

Henson has had a recurring problem with his Achilles, most recently after Ospreys’ game against London Irish last weekend.

“It’s been a six-day turnaround before an international. There are high demands on players and Gavin has fallen foul of them.”

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© 2008 AFP