Gerry Thornley joins the media scrum around the most colourful of this Lions squad.

At first, there are just three of us around him in the feeding frenzy that is last Tuesday's media session. Gavin Henson is relaxed, smiling and chatty.

For a former under-21 player of the year and such an innate talent, the 23-year-old has actually come a long way in 12 months. Could he have believed it? He pauses for thought.

"This time last year I wasn't even in the international set-up, was I?" he wonders aloud. "No, not at all. It's been a great season for me, winning the Grand Slam and with the Ospreys winning the Celtic League as well and to be part of this squad now with all these world-class players is awesome."

A turning point of sorts was the lowest ebb in his career, being overlooked by Steve Hansen for the Welsh squad in the 2003 World Cup.

"I think it made me a better player and a better person being left out of the World Cup. I was told by everyone I would be going on that World Cup and when it turned out that I wasn't it was a massive disappointment; quite depressing, to be honest," he admitted candidly.

"I've come through it quite well. I really looked at my game, really looked at everything, became more professional, and I'm sort of getting the rewards now for it. I became more professional in everything - diet and training, putting in extra hours and stuff. It made me want it more.

"I was lucky in that I went into regional rugby in Wales and I was lucky to have coaches in Lynn Jones and Sean Volley who just showed belief in me and played me week in and week out, which I hadn't had before. I was playing once a month before, which made it hard to develop my game."

Asked if he had a point to prove to Graham Henry and Hansen, who had overlooked him in their spells as coaches of Wales, Henson smiled. He wasn't falling for that one: Henson Out To Stick It To Henry.

"I haven't got to prove any point. I'm just looking forward to the game Saturday. It will be nice to start a game, I haven't played for two months, I think, so I'll just concentrate on that one now. I'm looking forward to playing with Brian O'Driscoll actually."

Even for one as self-confident as Henson, the lack of match time in the last two months must be a concern. This was due in part to a groin problem, which needed a pain-killing injection.

"It feels fine. I had a cortisone injection about a month ago and it seems to have taken away the pain and inflammation. I feel near enough to 100 per cent now so I'm looking forward to playing."

Nonetheless, he's clearly not the type to wrap himself in knots thinking about this game as his prime chance to nail down a Test midfield partnership with the Ireland and Lions captain.

"It's in the back of my mind obviously, a Test spot, but I'm concentrating fully on this game. Like I say, I haven't played in a while so we'll see what my match fitness is like. Yeah, there's probably a little bit extra pressure on me so hopefully I'll go out there and play well.

"It's just great being with all these world-class players. I'm really looking forward to playing with Brian O'Driscoll. I think he's the best centre in the world. It's been great training with him. He's just someone you look up to and listen to everything he says. He always makes sense. He's helped me quite a bit. He speaks quite a lot of the time to me, which helps. I'll be able to say more about him when I've played with him on Saturday."

As for training alongside Jonny Wilkinson? Henson is hugely committed to his chosen sport, but mention of Wilkinson makes him smile.

"His work ethic is something else, isn't it? He's on that field non-stop. Fair play to him."

As the media throng thickened around him, and more and more microphones were thrust toward him - or perhaps because the nature of the questioning changed - so Henson clammed up a little. Now sporting a red rinse to his gel-spiked hair, this willing centre of attention is also, curiously, quite shy. Asked again whether he had a point to prove, he said he'd answered that question and suggested the reporter "ask one of your mates" for the earlier answer.

As for the bait that he must be confident of making the 12 jersey his, Henson gives a steady stare. He ain't biting at that one either.

"Like I say, I haven't played for a couple of months. Let's see how it all works. I haven't been involved in a British Lions before. It's going to be different, innit? Trying to get all the combinations right between all these players."

Talking about his involvement with the leading lights of British and Irish rugby, he almost seems a little starry-eyed. "How professional they are and their work ethic, it's just what you expect really."

In terms of "off-the-field stuff" he feels he has some way to go to emulate most of his new teammates.

"I'm trying to emulate them all the time but it's difficult."

By this he means?

"There's a lot of experienced players here, at team meetings and stuff, voicing their opinions and stuff. I'm getting better at it, but the longer I'm here the more comfortable I'll get."

So then, two months without a game. His Lions debut. A pressurised opportunity to stake a claim on the Test team. A chance, though he wouldn't see it that way, to perhaps prove a point to previous Welsh coaches who didn't believe in him.

Nerves? He is impervious to them.

"I don't get nervous. I just enjoy the game so much, I get so excited about playing it that I don't see the point in getting nervous."