Wales 28 - 31 Barbarians: Gavin Henson tipped to get back to his best after international return

Barbarians assistant coach Scott Johnson believes Gavin Henson can recapture his best form after making his return to Test rugby in Wales' 31-28 defeat to the invitational side at the Millennium Stadium yesterday.

Henson, making a first appearance for his country since the RBS 6 Nations finale against Ireland in 2009, looked understandably rusty as he tries to adjust to being back at the game's highest level, although he did create Wales' opening try for wing George North with a wide, and suspiciously forward, pass.

The 29-year-old was then named in Wales coach Warren Gatland's preliminary 45-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand in the immediate aftermath of yesterday's contest.

And Johnson believes Henson can eventually reproduce the form that made him an integral part of the Grand Slam-winning sides of 2005 and 2008 as he looks to be involved in the game's global showpiece for the first time. Former Wales caretaker coach Johnson, who was Henson's boss at the Ospreys until the player headed to Saracens earlier this season, said: "It's not the Gavin of old, I think that's clear to see, but it doesn't mean he can't get back there.

"He has played limited rugby and it showed in some cases, but he is a quality player and he has a bit of time in his favour."

Henson, who is without a club after Toulon opted not to offer him a new contract at the end of the season, had hinted through the media he would be interested in a return to the Ospreys.

But Johnson said: "I have not given it a thought since I came into camp (with the Barbarians] two weeks ago."

Henson was also linked with the Cardiff Blues during the week, but Blues boss and Baa-Baas head coach Dai Young dismissed any talk of a move for the 2005 Lions tourist as "speculation".

Henson himself had admitted he had not been at his best as Wales suffered a fifth home defeat of the season thanks to a brilliant last-gasp Barbarians try from Leinster full-back Isa Nacewa.

He told BBC Wales: "I am very proud, getting back into that Welsh jersey. I have really enjoyed the week, getting back in and playing. But I am bitterly disappointed with my performance, there were some bad decisions I made. It was a good game to be involved in and it was a pity we lost in the end."

Wales' defeat meant world rugby's most famous invitation team followed South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England in winning at the Millennium Stadium this season. Only Ireland failed to win, beaten in controversial fashion by Wales' dubious quick lineout try.And, given that Wales' World Cup group in New Zealand three months from now includes the world champion Springboks, Samoa (who beat Wales in the 1991 and 1999 tournaments) and Fiji (who drew 16-16 in Cardiff last November and dumped Wales out of global contention four years ago), there appears plenty to concern Welsh fans.

"It's about closing out games," said Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate. "But we didn't do it, and we got punished. We definitely need to sort it out. It was frustrating, and we are gutted, to be honest. We let it slip again, and we just can't switch off in these games."

The Barbarians led 19-14 at half-time, but they then conceded 14 unanswered points as Wales took charge when tries from Mike Phillips and Aled Brew followed earlier efforts from North and Morgan Stoddart. However, late tries from Mathieu Bastareaud and Nacewa sealed victory for the Baa-Baas.Fly-half Stephen Jones landed all four conversions on his 100th appearance for Wales.

Meanwhile, flanker Martyn Williams is ready for a summer of sweat and toil with Wales as he pursues a possible dream double playing in his fourth World Cup and collecting 100 caps.

The 35-year-old flanker is up and running after securing a place in Wales coach Warren Gatland's 45-man World Cup training squad after featuring for the Barbarians against his countrymen on Saturday. But he accepts the hard work starts now - via two training camps in Poland and three World Cup warm-up Tests - before Gatland selects the final 30 ahead of departure to New Zealand on August 31.

Given that Williams was not required during Wales' recent RBS 6 Nations campaign after being overtaken in the openside pecking order by his Cardiff Blues colleague Sam Warburton, it is safe to say the chips are down. "There is a long summer of training ahead and three pre-World Cup games, so the slate is clean for everyone," said Williams. "In all likelihood, they will probably only take one openside to the World Cup. There are so many boys who can play at six and seven, so we will have to see what happens."

The most notable omissions from Gatland's initial World Cup party are Ospreys pair Dan Biggar and Ian Gough.

Biggar misses out behind chosen fly-halves Jones, James Hook, Rhys Priestland and the Dragons' Jason Tovey, while 34-year-old Gough has failed to secure one of four second-row slots.

Tovey apart, the other uncapped players in Gatland's preliminary World Cup plans are Scarlets lock Lou Reed and Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric.

Scorers: Wales - Tries: North, Stoddart, Phillips, Brew. Cons: S Jones 4. Barbarians - Tries: Tekori, Nacewa 2, Parisse, Bastareaud. Cons: James 3.

Wales: Stoddart; North, Davies, Henson (Andrews, 61), Brew; S. Jones (Priestland, 66), Phillips (Knoyle, 56); Bevington (Williams, 61), Bennett (Burns, 63), James, R. Jones (A Jones, 56), Charteris, Lydiate (Turnbull, 63), Warburton, Faletau.Barbarians: Nacewa; Sackey (Baby, 61), Rabeni (Mason, 64), Bastareaud, Howlett; James, Tillous-Borde (L Williams, 64); Thomas (Hayman, 74), Bruno (Ghiraldini, 54), Hayman (Kubriashvili, 64), Tekori, Tito (Lund, 54), van Niekerk, M. Williams (Smith, 54), Parisse.

Referee: A Rolland

Attendance: 48,632