Henshaw set to make Irish U-20 debut on home patch

Robbie Henshaw looks set to make his Irish U-20 debut in his native Athlone this Friday evening. The Coosan native, who has become a regular in the Connacht side this season, was drafted into Declan Kidney's Irish senior rugby panel yesterday. He has since been released from the senior panel to the U20s, who are preparing to take on England in an Electric Ireland U-20 Six Nations Championship clash in Athlone's Dubarry Park. An inexperienced Ireland side was unlucky to lose 17-15 away to Wales in the opening round last Friday. The inclusion of Henshaw in the U-20 squad means he will miss his first Connacht game of the season (away to the Scarlets) on Friday. Connacht coach Eric Elwood has been full of praise for the 19-year-old, hailing his "superb" performances over the course of this season. The Ireland-England U-20 fixture gets underway at 7.35pm on Friday.