The 29-year-old is only a couple of matches into a comeback since dislocating his wrist in a World Cup warm-up match against England and had been hoping to lay down a marker in the forthcoming Heineken Cup games.

But Henson was unable to take his place against the European champions because of a calf strain with fellow Welsh international Leigh Halfpenny moving to full-back to replace him.

And Halfpenny delivered a 11-point haul to showcase his own credentials but it was not enough to stop the Blues slipping to a 23-19 reversal.

Scotland fly-half Dan Parks also struck a drop goal for the Blues while prop Gethin Jenkins touched down but it was Leinster’s Irish contingent who really impressed.

Jamie Heaslip looked back to his rampaging best in the No.8 and he helped set up a try for Irish back-row colleague Sean O’Brien.

Full-back Rob Kearney also finished off a well-worked moved with Jonathan Sexton pulling the strings at fly-half.

Declan Kidney will have also been pleased with the manner of Munster’s emphatic performance in their 29-11 bonus-point victory over Treviso.

Flanker Niall Ronan, centre Keith Earls, winger Simon Zebo and man-of-the-match James Coughlan all touched down.

Connacht however fared less well against Italian opposition as they went down to a 20-6 defeat to Aironi.

Sinoti Sinoti scored the only try of the match while Italian fly-half hopeful Luciano Orquera converted five penalties.

Meanwhile a weakened Glasgow Warriors slipped to a 16-14 defeat at the Scarlets for whom Rhys Priestland kicked 11 points.