Henson accuses O'Driscoll of gouging

Ireland skipper also allegedly pulled his hair and called him names

The latest extract from Gavin Henson's forthcoming soccer-style confessional details the moment that Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll allegedly attempted to gouge the Welshman's eye out.

The Wales and Lions star's desire to wash his dirty laundry in public has already earned him a reprimand from a number of his peers, and this latest assertion will undoubtedly boost sales of his warts-and-all tome if not his standing in rugby circles.

Henson - who believes some of his fellow Lions were "obsessed with the sound of their own voices" - claims the gouging incident came after he was on the receiving end of a big hit from Ireland centre Kevin Maggs during Wales's 32-20 victory in Cardiff during the 2005 Six Nations.

"As I was on the ground, O'Driscoll came in and tried to 'jackal' me - a term we use to mean stealing the ball from your opponent on the ground," writes the 23-year-old in the latest Mail on Sunday appetiser.

"But instead of trying to rip the ball clear of my grasp, he also decided to pull my hair and tried to gouge my eye for good measure, saying: 'How do you like that, you cocky little f***er?'

"There was a real flash of anger in his eyes. It was intense. I still don't really know what wound him up. It may have been something I'd said in the build-up."

Later, when Ireland's Geordan Murphy stole in for a late consolation try, it appeared as if Henson stuck a boot into the path of the Leicester star as he crossed the whitewash.

But Henson denies that he made any contact with the Irishman, and said the moment - which was picked up and penalised as a trip by referee Chris White - still earned him a stout rebuke from O'Driscoll.

"He [Murphy] stumbled a little and it must have looked from some angles as though I'd tripped him," writes Henson.

"In fact, we hadn't made contact. But O'Driscoll came running over and started shouting abuse again, shouting: 'You're a f***ing w***er."

Whether or not the book has been 'sexed-up' by the player's growing entourage of agents and PR advisers remains to be seen, but Wales legend Barry John believes that Henson's decision to bare his soul would come back to haunt him.

"During the coming weeks and certainly during the Six Nations, it will be interesting the kind of reaction he gets when he walks into a room," wrote the Wales on Sunday columnist.

"When he bumps into fellow Lions I think it's fair to say he can expect a reaction - certain words will not be complimentary.

"What would you expect after accusing your team-mates of revelling in the sound of their voices?

"Gavin Henson has most definitely upset the applecart although I'd say that his publishers and the newspaper encouraged him greatly to put a lot of meat on the bones.

"He is young, at 23, but should have been better advised.

"Gavin claims there is no code of conduct among the players - but let him be in no doubt, not everything in life has to be written down to know when you are doing wrong.

"He must pick up the vibes, if it's not blindingly obvious.

"I'm not surprised by the reaction of Brian O'Driscoll and I think those on the tour would be virtually unanimous in saying: 'Gavin, you've got it wrong'.

"I'm sure Gavin's book will sell well but it's a case of being able to go to bed at night with a clear conscience."