Wood an inspiration for Henshaw

Lions centre Robbie Henshaw admitted that former Ireland hooker Keith Wood's exploits with the side inspired him growing up.

Henshaw, widely tipped to start in the Lions Test XV in New Zealand, revealed that his earliest memory of watch the Lions was of keeping tabs on Wood due to the Ireland great being friends with Henshaw's uncle.

Speaking from the Lions' training base in Ireland this week, Henshaw desribed being selected as "a privilege" as attention towards the tour continues to build.

"I remember getting up incredibly early for the last New Zealand Tour and watching those games," Henshaw told the Lions website.

"I remember them all but my earliest is probably when Keith Wood was playing, I was pretty young back then but my uncle (David) played with Keith and would be a good friend of Keith's.

"So I remember pinpointing him in the team when watching the games. It's a massive, unbelievable experience and a privilege to be involved.

"But when it gets down to it I am just really looking forward to getting out on the pitch and doing what we do best.

"I am here to back myself to go on and try and get in Test team. I will do my best to get into selection but just train away, put in the hard work and focus on the now. What happens with selection happens."

Henshaw added that getting up to speed with the Lions squad this week had been a welcome distraction from the disappointment of losing out in last Friday's PRO12 semi-final against Scarlets.

"It's been great, good to catch up with the boys and join in with the work they have been doing the week before in the Vale in Wales," he added. 

"It has certainly taken my mind away from the weekend which was a big disappointment for us. But to take the distraction and focus on something else is good.

"Going into a new playbook, it will be an advantage to get to know it early and to know all the players. Going into a new environment is really good, it's a breath of fresh air and everybody loves the new set-up."