Former England centre Jeremy Guscott believes that Gavin Henson must put his time while banned to good use and concentrate on his 13 February return. On Tuesday the Wales centre, 23, had a ban for elbowing opponent Alex Moreno reduced by three weeks on appeal.
"Gavin has to play things a bit smarter now that he's off the field," Guscott told BBC Sport.
"He should be seen training, walking around in his tracksuit and not so much at (film) premiers and nightclubs."
Henson's off-field activities this year include an autobiography that criticised fellow players and his much-publicised relationship with singer Charlotte Church.
Some of the revelations in the book angered many in the rugby world, but Guscott does not believe that Henson was singled out to be made an example of because of his high profile.
"One thing that rugby is generally is incredibly fair, and with it being a team sport no individual is bigger than the game itself," Guscott added.
 |  Gavin loves playing rugby, he lives for rugby |
But Guscott feels that perhaps it was more the lack of any remorse shown for his actions that counted against Henson in his original European Rugby Cup hearing.
The Osprey was cited following a clash with prop Moreno during a Heineken Cup match against Leicester on 18 December.
Henson was initially banned for 10 weeks and two days, ruling him out of Wales' first three RBS Six Nations matches against England, Scotland and Ireland.
But the successful appeal means Henson will be available for the Ospreys' Celtic League match against Borders on 17 February and then Wales' international against Ireland in Dublin nine days later.
 Henson was cited after a Heineken Cup match against Leicester |
"The length of ban was a bit harsh, given what has happened to other players," Guscott said.
"Now Gavin has got it reduced it's to his benefit, Wales' benefit and the Ospreys' benefit.
"But still I don't think he'll be that happy about it, he might have thought he would get away with it and come back for the Six Nations.
"He's not a player who is renowned for dirty play and you read things that if he'd apologised straight after the event then that would have been taken into account.
"So that's something that every player should learn from, what is a bit of a mistake - not just the elbow but not apologising, not showing any remorse.
"But some of these laws and what you have to do to shorten a ban seem a bit weird."
Wales coach Mike Ruddock has indicated that he will give Henson every chance to prove his fitness to get back for the tail-end of the Six Nations.
And Guscott hopes to see Henson, who has already missed much of the season following groin surgery, back playing at the highest level soon.
"I hope he does because he's a very talented player," Guscott said.
"Whenever Gavin plays he's going to have an impact, whether he plays well or not - the cameras are always going to be focussed on him.
"He's not even in his prime yet and he's now got the opportunity to get his body in the best shape it has ever been.
"One thing that comes across in interviews is that the guy loves playing rugby, he lives for rugby and I hope he gets everything in order and comes out playing better than ever."
MMIX
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