Henson, one of his country’s unsung heroes in this year’s tournament, boasts a remarkable record of winning every RBS 6 Nations match he has started.

If that run continues on Saturday then Henson will have played a central role in 10 straight championship victories and Grand Slam triumphs in both 2005 and 2008.

“I am aware of that record,” he said. “I didn’t really want anyone to know until the end of the campaign but people seem to have picked up on it.

“I hope to make it 10 out of 10 this weekend. It has been a great campaign so far. There is one more to go and we all hope we can do it.

“It is great to be involved. There is a great feeling in the camp and confidence is really high.”

It seems extraordinary but until Warren Gatland took charge, Henson had not started an RBS 6 Nations match for Wales since the 2005 Grand Slam.

He had failed to shine on the Lions tour of New Zealand and then a series of injuries kept him short of regular top-level rugby until this season.

“I haven’t been involved that much in the last couple of years. I feel I should have had a lot more caps,” Henson said diplomatically.

“I am just trying to take my chance and stay in there. I am not coming to the end of my career and I just want to get as many caps as I can.”

The arrival of Gatland, a confirmed fan of Henson’s talents at inside centre, offered the player another fresh start.

Gatland has told him he has the potential to become the best in his position in world rugby.

Henson said: “It is a nice hurdle to get over if a coach comes in and speaks highly of you.

“You know you have a good chance of being involved then. And if he has that faith in you, you don’t want to let him down.

“It has been refreshing having a new coaching team with ideas and techniques. I am learning at every training session and it is at an intensity I have never trained before.

“That has given us a mental toughness and it showed in the last five minutes against Ireland when we killed off the game.

“As an international player, you want to be the best in the world in your position. If I can stay part of this then hopefully I can get to those heights.”