Henshaw, who has completed his conversion from full-back to outside centre for the Irish province in the GUINNESS PRO12 this season, started with the unfamiliar No.12 jersey on his back on Saturday.
But his centre partnership with Ulster's Jared Payne stood up to the test of the Springboks well and Ireland emerged with a superb 29-15 success.
And the 21-year-old Henshaw admitted afterwards that he was loving the chance to test himself at the highest level of the sport.
"It was a massive step up, I don't think I've hit bigger guys in my life," he said.
"I was quite shocked by the size of them. I got used to it after a couple of hits."
"I was pretty happy with my performance, a few little things I can work on. Overall I learned a little bit as well so I was quite happy out there."
"Gordon D'Arcy gave me a hand during the week. He said just do as you do at 13 but just one slot in."
"I was quite comfortable, I had two good guys either side of me."
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