RUGBY: ADAM BYRNE INTERVIEW
Byrne making the most of his opportunity to impress
Daire Walsh
DESPITE finding himself on the losing side for only the second time in his Leinster first-team career, it was another productive weekend on the scoring front for Kill’s Adam Byrne in the Guinness PRO12 on Friday evening.
Leinster suffered their second defeat in this year’s competition to the Scarlets in Wales, but although there was nine points (38-29) separating the teams in the end, the Blues managed to come away with a try-bonus from a high-scoring encounter.
Byrne crossed over on 55 minutes to give himself an outstanding seasonal tally of five tries from just three appearances, and speaking in the build-up to the game, he acknowledged that this is a crucial period for his development as a Leinster player.
“I had a good go in pre-season, I got to play in the pre-season games. Then it’s just up to the coaches whether they pick you or not, but I’ve been plugging away at training and waiting for my opportunity,” Byrne remarked.
“You realise, whenever the internationals are on a few players leave, so there’s a bit more of a chance for you. I’ve been having conversations with the coaches, and trying my best in training. It’s always good to get an opportunity, and you just have to take them.”
Byrne’s first opportunity to impress Leo Cullen and recently-appointed senior coach Stuart Lancaster came in the interprovincial game against Connacht on October 29. Because they had already lost players to the Ireland camp, Byrne realised it was likely to be a tough encounter at the RDS, and he enjoyed getting his name on the scoresheet at home to the PRO12 champions.
“For me personally, that was a great moment. It was a big game for us, Connacht were doing really well. They’re Pro12 champions, so we knew it was going to be a big game. Losing a few of the big players to the Ireland camp, we knew the rest of the squad had to step up.”
“I was just delighted to get the chance, and I knew once I had that jersey on, I had to deliver. I think my try, I just picked it up, and put it down. It was on the back of the other lads again, but it’s just great to kind of get the score for the team. It was a great moment for me and the team.”
This encouraging display from Byrne was then supplemented by his hat-trick in Italy a week later against Zebre, a game that saw him featuring alongside housemates Tom Daly and Peter Dooley. Another man that he shares accommodation with, Josh van der Flier, played a significant role for Ireland in their historic win over the All Blacks on the same day, and Byrne has been keen to pick the Wicklow man’s brain for any knowledge he has of the international set-up.
“Yeah, I think me and Tom [Daly], looking back last year, spent a ridiculous amount of days together. I was delighted for him, he was starting and making his debut against Zebre. It was a great moment, and it was a great moment for the house as well.”
“There was me, Peter Dooley, Thomas Daly playing in Zebre, and then we had Josh van der Flier, obviously, beating the All Blacks. It was a great moment for the house.”
“Josh was home the other day, and getting to quiz him and stuff, and ask him all about the game. It’s surreal, but it pushes the rest of us on. It’s great, especially in our house, we just drive each other,” Byrne added.