EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN
SCOTLAND coach Frank Hadden today named his side for Sunday's opening match of the RBS Six Nations Championship against France at Murrayfield to spark a double celebration within the ranks.

By selecting Andy Henderson he will not only honour the centre with his 50th cap but the fixture falls on the 28th birthday of a player who debuted with a try in the 2001 clash with Ireland.

One of those who has followed Henderson's progress most closely since then is ex-Scotland captain Gordon Bulloch, who is in no doubt that access to the exclusive "50-cap club" he also inhabits is well merited.

"Andy has always been a very hard worker in everything he did although as often as not it is his rugby that does most of the talking because he is also an extremely quiet type," said Bulloch, pictured below. "What hasn't changed over the years is Andy's ability to hold on to possession while he is also very skilled at using his size (Henderson is 6ft 3in and 16st) to spring opposition ball in the tackle.

"Where I've seen him contribute handsomely, too, is with his reading of the game which enables him to time his lines of running so as to support colleagues.

"Especially just now he is just what Scotland need to provide some solidity in a midfield which has sometimes in the past been a bit vulnerable and help them cash in on the type of continuity that seems to be eluding the likes of France where a new coach (Marc Lievremont) has made a string of changes as he stamps his authority on the squad.

"By contrast, Scotland are a lot more settled and that can pay dividends for Andy and all the boys.

"It wouldn't be all that surprising either if he raises his try tally for Scotland through his ability to break half-tackles."

In fact, a study of his record shows Henderson has run in eight tries at Test level.

Another who spotted the Henderson potential some time ago is Mike Yorston, president of his original club, Lenzie, who he joined after the family moved from Edinburgh to Glasgow during his early years.

"Andy sometimes turns up on the touchline at our matches bringing back memories of when he wore our colours when coming up through our youth ranks.

"I am bound to say that it was when he moved to the West of Scotland club on his way to the pro ranks that Andy really put on a spurt in terms of development, but it will be a proud day for Lenzie, too, when he gets his 50th cap," said Yorston. "The hallmarks were there as a schoolboy, I well remember, with Andy's ball retention and ability to act as a foil for the players outside him in the backs through drawing in the cover."

In the current edition of Rugby World magazine Henderson, who was actually born in Kent when his father, Roger, was serving in the Army, said of the possibility of a 50th cap on his birthday: "The thought of winning my 50th cap then is a nice idea but I have to get into the team first and there are a lot of guys in the mix. It's fantastic to get that number of caps, I never thought about that when I as starting out."

On Scotland's chances generally Henderson is cautiously optimistic, remarking: "Last year's Six Nations wasn't a success for us.

"But the more guys you have that have played together for a long time and have international experience the more the team benefits. It's an exciting time at the start of a new World Cup cycle.

"France and England were the big wins a couple of years ago and we start with France at home and they are an excellent side.

"All the games will be really tough but it is a big thing to get off to a decent start."

And since Henderson notched a hat-trick of triesin the World Cup warm up against Ireland last summer, a number of colleagues have moved on to clubs in England and France.

Referring to those out-goings, he highlighted a concern: "My only worry is that our guys are not playing together as much and are travelling a lot for the squad sessions."

But he insisted: "That disadvantage might be made up for by them bringing in their experiences from playing a different places. It's exciting to get back into Scotland action.

"It was a funny World Cup for us. It was good to qualify for the quarter-finals by beating Italy in the crunch match but we felt our quarter-final with Argentina was there for the taking but we didn't quite do enough. If you can stay in the game until the last ten or 15 minutes you're in with a chance and for us to move up a level we need to be more consistent against the big teams and take confidence from that."

This article was posted on 30-Jan-2008, 23:31 by Hugh Barrow.