Feel the Byrne

WORLD CUP outcast Lee Byrne has emerged from his bitter disappointment to light up this year’s Six Nations and revealed it is his ability to think inside the box, not outside it, which is behind his, and Wales’s, success.

The 27-year-old Ospreys’ full-back was left out in the cold by Gareth Jenkins last September but is one of a select band to have started every game for Wales in their surprise charge to the Six Nations Grand Slam.

The key, said Byrne, is a change in Welsh tactics. Kiwi-coach Warren Gatland has Wales training, and playing, like his native All Blacks. And they are after their title too - World Beaters.“Go hard or go home” is an infamous New Zealand motto and Gatland has been pushing the Welsh players to new limits in a bid to implement the All Black game plan.

Byrne, as full-back, has been instructed to keep his kicks long and within the confines of the pitch, inviting the opposition to run it back into the embrace of an enlivened Welsh defence.

“Obviously I’m used to kicking it out with the Ospreys so it’s quite different really,” said Byrne, who has spent years honing his range to find touch.

“We’ve been working with Shaun [Edwards] on the line-speed of our boys. We know that if we kick long and teams want to run it back at us there’ll be six men there waiting for them.

“If they want to kick it back it’s going to go to the halfway at minimum, so we’ve got to line up at the halfway. If you look at New Zealand that’s what they do and they’re the best team in the World.”

Underpinning the All Black game is a superior work ethic and Gatland, aided by Edwards, has been enlightening his new charges with new levels of training and fitness.

“When Warren came into the squad he said it’s going to be a hard way of playing, really hard way of playing. Everybody is probably running more now than they have ever done,” said Byrne.

“We’re doing such hard training sessions so that when it comes to the game it’s becoming easier for us. The way we’re playing I don’t think any one is on their feet at the end of the game. That’s the way [Gatland] likes it.”

A stronger, leaner, line-up of Welsh beef enables them to overhaul the opposition in the final minutes of a match. Wales came from behind against England at Twickenham and Ireland at Croke Park, and the knowledge they can grind out results has given the team huge belief.

Byrne echoed Ian Gough’s comments that the post-match dressing room in Ireland was a subdued place to be; a direct result of the new effort levels required. He said: “It was really quiet. Someone said, ‘Cheer up boys we’ve won the Triple Crown!’ I think it is because everyone was absolutely shattered.”

Shattered they were, yet with the Six Nations’ title effectively in the bag there are no illusions the job is complete.

“There’s still one final hurdle to go and that’s the most important one really,” said Byrne. “All these games will mean nothing if we don’t win this one. Everyone knows we’re playing for the Grand Slam and that’s what we want to achieve.

“We’re going out there to win, especially in Cardiff. We want to make it a fortress, the Millennium Stadium. And we want to win the Grand Slam and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The French flattened Wales 37-7 in the run-up to the World Cup and dispensed of “World-beaters” New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium in the World Cup quarter final.

But they must win by 20 points or more to wrestle the trophy from the mighty hands of Welsh captain Ryan Jones. And there is no suggestion Jones and his players will settle for anything less than a fifth and final victory.

“They’ve got some great players,” said Byrne on the French. “We can’t get complacent. But we want to win every game.”

Gatland has brought Byrne back into the fold and unleashed Wales on a course to claim a place in the top five teams in the world. According to the former All Black hooker this Welsh team could be, “pretty good in 12 months or two years.”

Next Saturday they could have won their second Grand Slam in four years.