In domestic action for Connacht Henshaw has impressed to the extent that after just four of his 22 appearances hitherto, head coach Eric Elwood told his parents their son would be a senior international.

This season he took another step closer to that as part of the Six Nations squad, taking part for the Wolfhounds, and he admitted getting the chance to rub shoulders with players such as Brian O’Driscoll was an experience he’ll never forget.

"It's been a massive achievement for me to be in the same squad as those guys that I looked up to, like Brian O'Driscoll, and I really enjoyed it," he told the Irish Independent.

"It was a big step compared to this time last year. At the start it was hard, but I had to stop thinking about it and play my own game and keep improving, keep going.

"You definitely have to earn their respect. When I was there they welcomed me with open arms, but once you're there, you have to perform 100 per cent all the time and be totally professional in how you go about training and everything you do on the pitch. It was a little bit daunting, but I enjoyed everything.”