Iain Henderson gives his verdict on Dan McFarland departure and new Ulster rugby boss

Ulster skipper Iain Henderson is excited to work under new interim boss Richie Murphy in the coming weeks. Henderson was in the Ireland bubble, fighting for his place, while his province underwent a change of head coach.

While the talisman was rehabbing a broken toe but also on Six Nations duty, Dan McFarland paid the price for a disappointing season to date. Ireland under-20 boss Richie Murphy was appointed until the end of the season.

"Obviously there are guys chatting about it down here but I've spent very little time up in Ulster because I've been down here so much," said Henderson. "It hasn't been a huge part of my life.

"The work Dan has done with us from back in 2018 to now, the opportunities he's given me in terms of my leadership and growing different bits and pieces in Ulster, was huge for me and my career.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the effort he's put into the club.

"Whatever might be on the cards for him next, I'm sure he'll do really well because he's incredibly talented. He was definitely able to turn us around."

Henderson worked with Murphy when he was Ireland's skills and kicking coach in the Joe Schmidt era.

The Dubliner will go hands on in the new role next week, after the under-20s last game against Scotland.

"Richie going to South Africa (with Ulster) will be brilliant, a nice, fresh step," Henderson said. "I know a lot of the guys were looking forward to working with him.

"He'll have his own take on things. I worked with Richie since '13 or '14 so it's been a long time and we see him around here, taking training with the 20s.

"He had a really good track record with a lot of the Leinster guys and then through Ireland with Joe and then the 20s.

"You can't doubt his coaching pedigree and I'm excited to see what he can and will bring with the current group, be it management and players, to see us out for whatever's left of the season."

Henderson describes Murphy as a "really good people person" who then switches on a "real detailed, technical side" in training.

The lock added: "He'll do a really good job of really tying the squad together, hopefully getting the best out of guys.

"We've seen it with the 20s, in a short period of time before a tournament he's turned a group of underage players into Grand Slam winning teams - and potentially this time a championship winning team.

"The guys at Ulster who have worked with him as a head coach have nothing but good things to say about him.

"I've seen how much the 20s enjoy training underneath him. That's a side of Richie I'm not sure of but I can't wait to see how that pans out."

 

Henderson accepts that he is now in a battle to play second fiddle with Ireland.

That doesn't mean he has to be happy about his ranking in the pecking order - or that he is settling for it.

Five months ago to the day, Henderson was a starting second row in the World Cup quarter-final against New Zealand.

But the 32-year-old is a realist and understands that Joe McCarthy has elevated his game since France 2023 to claim a starting spot alongside Tadhg Beirne.

A broken toe hasn't helped Henderson's cause.

But he understands that had James Ryan been fit last week then it would have been the Leinster lock on the bench at Twickenham instead of him.

"It's potentially like a new stage in my career but I’ve loved every bit of the Six Nations, and seeing Joe come in over the last year or 18 months," said Henderson.

"He has grown brilliantly into the position, what he adds about the place. His physicality in games is massive. He just has a massive future ahead of him.

"Tadhg's playing some of the rugby of his life, he's been brilliant as well.

"Frustrating for James to have his injury - but the competition is brilliant.

"We work very well as a unit and it's something I don’t take for granted, even though I've been behind those three guys. They've done a really good job and made us gel really well.

“I feel like I've slipped down the pecking order but I don’t see that as the negative it might have been two or three years ago.

"I’m still here competing and it's exciting to be pushing for a position, being involved with players individually world-class at what they do.

"The opportunity to drive something with those guys to get a result at the weekend, I'm really enjoying that.”

 

The Ulster skipper stresses that he is not resigned to a fate of very limited game time.

In that regard, Peter O'Mahony could provide some inspiration.

O'Mahony looked destined for a slow fade out at Test level but fought his way back in as a regular starter and was appointed as Ireland captain for this championship.

"I know that happened with Pete and look where he's at now," Henderson commented.

"In what I said there's no way is it a reflection of being happy or content with slipping down the pecking order. By no means.

"I don’t think anyone internally would think that. Equally, I’m enjoying competing for that position.

“That’s massive. Fortunately I've been in mainly positive environments, but you do hear of guys who do slip by the wayside.

"That’s testament to the way we get on here. That’s ultimately created by the coaching staff.”

The environment is a big plus for a player who has endured mental struggles in the past due to injuries, how his team is performing or other elements.

“That comes into a lot of players’ heads, be it injuries, be it results, be it personal form, things outside of rugby," Henderson explained.

"I’d be shocked if there wasn’t a professional player where that hasn’t come into their head.

“But that’s part and parcel of what the job is and how you manage those highs and lows and your own expectations, that’s all part of that.

"Your view on it changes slightly as you get older, being able to manage those emotions better."

Talking to his wife, Suzanne, to family and close friends and to team-mates helps.

"To those who know me I'm quite open," he said. "I've been very privileged, I'm proud to be able to say what I've done.

"A lot of times you realise you're in a slightly better position than sometimes where your dark thoughts can put you.