Byrne grateful to Gatland for chance to shine

LEE BYRNE has revealed he feared the selection axe for Wales’ successful Italian job after his yellow card calamity at Croke Park.

Byrne justified Warren Gatland’s decision to stick with him by playing a starring role in the demolition of an Italian side that finished with the Six Nations wooden spoon for the eighth time in 11 seasons.

Just seven days earlier, the Lions full-back’s yellow card in Dublin saw Ireland score two tries when he was off the pitch, and Wales never recovered.