Aussie rookie Byrnes ready to fire Lions pack
The young Australian never expected it any other way. He was just relieved to be back out on the pitch and in a position to justify Michael Cheika’s decision to make him his first signing last June.
Since his arrival from Sydney, the second-rower has managed only four appearances. His start against Munster on New Year’s Eve was his first run out since snapping knee medial ligaments against Gwent-Newport Dragons in September.
“It was hugely frustrating,” he admits now. “I felt I was under a lot of pressure because I was Michael Cheika’s first signing. It felt like there was a lot of expectation on me and sitting out two months wasn’t the way I wanted to start my career over here. I was anxious to prove myself.”
He has been trying to prove his worth for some time now. A lifelong member of the Eastern Suburbs club in Sydney, Byrnes was considered unfortunate to be overlooked for a Super 14 contract with the New South Wales Waratahs again this year.
With one door closed, another opened with a phone call from Cheika, whom he knew well from the latter’s days coaching Eastern Suburbs’ great Sydney rivals Randwick.
Leinster he knew nothing about, but it wasn’t long after logging on to the internet before names like “O’Driscoll”, “Hickie”, “O’Kelly” and “D’Arcy” started popping up at him. With talent like that and Cheika’s penchant for running rugby, Byrnes knew that this was a side capable of ending his quest for a seat at rugby’s top table.
“Where ‘Checks’ comes from in Randwick, it’s renowned for running rugby. Not just now, but down the years as well. They’ve had guys like the Ellas come through, there so you know what you’ll be getting with any team ‘Checks’ coaches.
“The backs are going to throw the ball around an awful lot and it’s successful too. He took them from a bad spell for the club to the Premiership title, so it definitely works.”
He admits it is the thoughts of getting a taste of Heineken Cup action later this month that occupies most of his thoughts but today’s trip to face Llanelli at Stradey Park will require total focus from Leinster.
Both sides have won their last three Celtic League fixtures and the Welsh side have the kind of rugged pack that Bath will bring into battle at the Rec in two weeks’ time in Europe.
Byrnes’ will probably be a new face to the Scarlets’ Simon Easterby but the Irish flanker is adamant that he is delighted to see Brian O’Driscoll making the trip to Wales, even if it makes Llanelli’s task difficult.
O’Driscoll plays his first game outside Ireland since his horror tackle in New Zealand and the Scarlets’ captain said: “He is one of Ireland’s few world-class players and we really need him back for the Six Nations, but hopefully he will still be a bit rusty this weekend and get sharper in the weeks to come.”
The Scarlets won both of their festive Welsh derbies against Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues but make seven changes, two positional, for the visit of Leinster.
A rejuvenated Martyn Madden swaps sides in the front-row allowing Kiwi Craig Dunlea to make his first start.
Hottie Louw and Adam Jones form a new second row partnership while Barry Davies and Mike Hercus return behind the scrum. For Leinster, winger Rob Kearney again misses out while Denis Hickie continues his recuperation from the bench. Cheika will finalise his pack closer to kick-off.
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