Byrne's mission impossible

Shane Byrne, who has learned the hard way that patience is a virtue, is ready to step into the biggest boots in Irish rugby history.

The Leinster hooker, first called into the Irish squad in 1994, had to wait seven years to win his first cap and suddenly found himself back in the role of understudy when Keith Wood returned from injury to lead the side in the World Cup.

But now Wood has hung up the number two jersey for good, and Byrne is anxious to make his mark even though he appreciates it is a near-impossible act to follow.

“He was a fantastic icon for Irish rugby,” said Byrne.

“Only Keith Wood could do what he did. He played a specific style of rugby which he was the best at.

“I definitely don’t try to emulate him. I just play my own game. I probably play a tighter game, more at the rock face.”

Byrne, strong and dynamic and with a good line-out throw, caught the eye with a string of impressive performances during Wood’s absence from the 2003 Six Nations – and he was a useful understudy in Australia too.

The Blackrock College man is now looking forward to the 2004 campaign with all the enthusiasm of the 22-year-old who first toured Australia with the Irish senior squad 10 years ago.

It is difficult to believe that Byrne, who is married with twin daughters aged 15 months, is actually six months older than his retired predecessor – a shocking fact in view of his youthful looks and trademark, collar-length hair.

“He obviously had a very stressful childhood, and I didn’t,” laughed Byrne.

“Because I’ve been around for so long, people don’t really know exactly what way it is. It’s a conversation that doesn’t come up too often, thank God. It’s not something that I would be bringing up, you know.

“But I’ve never been as fit or as strong. I feel like I’m only starting. I waited a long time to get this chance, and now it’s fantastic. I’m really enjoying it.

“When I first got into the Irish squad I was getting to the stage where I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, so much time has gone by. The rest of my career could go by, and I could get no cap’.

“Luckily it came in 2001, and I’m at the stage now where I never thought I would be – where I can genuinely say that, even with the seven or eight-year wait, I wouldn’t change a thing.

“It’s a great time to be involved with Irish rugby. God knows what would have happened if I had got a cap when I was younger, whether I would still have the hunger that I have now. The way it is at the moment is absolutely perfect.”

But Byrne is neither arrogant nor complacent enough to think that Wood’s number two jersey will go to him automatically. There is, of course, Munster hooker Frankie Sheehan – another of Wood’s long-term understudies who overturned a drugs ban in time to join the World Cup squad – and rising star Bernard Jackman, of Connacht.

“As long as he [Wood] stays retired, the place is up for grabs now,” admitted Byrne.

“I don’t think it’s simply a case of stepping up and filling the gap. If there had been an international soon after the World Cup it would have been easier for me maybe, but now it’s up for grabs. I’ve got to make sure I have a good European Cup campaign in January to secure my position. I would expect that to be the dictating factor.

“Frankie is a very good player and he’s been champing at the heels. That’s what you want. You’ve got to thrive off it and use it to your advantage. Bernard is showing good form for Connacht, and I expect him to be there or thereabouts.”

Whatever the make-up of the team, Byrne is confident Ireland can maintain the remarkable progress they have made over the last four years.

Under the astute guidance of Eddie O’Sullivan, the Irish climbed briefly to third place in the IRB rankings last summer and went within a whisker of beating Australia in the group stages of the World Cup before a disappointing first half of the quarter-final against France put paid to their hopes.

They face a tough task this year, with an opening trip to Paris followed in March by a daunting visit to Twickenham.

But Byrne believes Ireland are ready to make the big breakthrough in 2004.

“We’re taking steps every year and we hope to continue it this year,” he said.

“Things have really turned around. There was the disappointment of the World Cup, going out the way we did and going so close against Australia, and we’ve got to get to the stage now where the close calls go our way rather than the other way.

“It won’t be far from the mind that the last time we had France and England away we had two shockers, but I think the team is a completely different unit to the one two years ago. I feel we can genuinely go to these places and challenge.

“France are difficult to beat away from home, but we’ve done it before. England are definitely the number one team in the world but they’re not totally infallible.

“It’s come to a stage where it’s the last step to get over before you become a very good team.”