let us play the game being it was fortunate that i was playing very well played at altitude or not.
had by fans in rugby clubs and for the ospreys at the time so he gave me my
pubs, by pundits and – behind first chance. “everybody knows it is lions year and it is
closed doors – by the players hard to get away from the frenzy over it, but
themselves. “at the time of the england game i remember i am just concentrating on playing well for
a lot of people would not have had me in wales and the ospreys.”
any time there is a lull in conversation, the their team, but warren had belief in me and
sure-fire banker to keep the comments put me in there. Yet 12 months ago byrne was a long
flowing for an hour or two starts with the way from making the full international
phrase, “ok then, name your lions starting “it was great to play in that six nations and breakthrough with wales, arguably he was still
XV next summer.” get the grand slam medal, it was something just a journeyman regional player.
that can never be taken away from me and
there is one name which would hardly have the rugby i was playing was good as well. while wales were struggling in the world
figured at all 12 months ago, certainly outside cup, he was outstanding for the ospreys
wales, but which would now cause the “the key was not to let my form dip after and earned first choice selection for the
briefest of discussions. “lee byrne, full back,” that when i went back to the ospreys. i had november game against south africa only to
followed by nods all round and a swift move a cartilage operation in the summer, which pull out injured.
onto the right wing debate. meant missing the south africa tour but
meant i could have a full pre-season and push but perhaps the story starts earlier, when
all this success has come at the age of 27 so on this year.” the welsh schools cap went from tondu, to
has lee byrne changed, or is it just that welsh bridgend and onto the scarlets - though he
rugby was slow to wake up to his talents? there are a host of reasons why the full back was never really first choice at Stradey Park,
should be a shoe-in now. his form is top with barry davies chosen for the big games
He has only been first choice for Wales since drawer, man-of-the-match against australia and major injury wiping out the 2004 season.
the start of the last six nations, having been and he also had strong performances against
left out of the final World Cup squad, after a south africa and new Zealand. Just over two years ago he moved to the
few caps playing the lesser nations or filling in Ospreys, his home region, and benefitted
because of injury. however there is more, much more, to being from being first choice at last.
an automatic lions choice.
“sometimes there are late developers and “when a club comes in for you then you
lee is certainly one of those, but what he the law changes have accentuated his know they rate you and i was guaranteed
has done is make up for lost time,” is the strengths. there is greater emphasis on some rugby there under sean and lyn, they
explanation from his regional coach sean kicking duels from around the two 22 metre were two good coaches who have helped me
holley, who has played a huge part in that lines, if you were picking teams in the school a lot,” said byrne.
change. playground for such a game then byrne would
be first choice for he is immensely strong “i was still developing as a player when i was
“players get setbacks, coaching and selection under the high ball and kicks like a mule. at the scarlets, barry was playing very well so
is about opinion. here at the ospreys we he deserved to be in that position.”
have a really high opinion of lee, he needs also the tour is to south africa which means
constant feedback and takes things on board playing at altitude on the high Veldt for two holley was backs coach at the liberty
to learn really quickly. of the three Tests, where the ball flies even stadium and one of those who had spotted
further, while there are no other obvious the talent. “we were really, really keen to get
“i think we have seen a rapid improvement candidates pushing in his position. hold of lee,” he remembered.
and understanding in his game and perhaps
what has been most pleasing is how he has “i have not really thought about the new laws “we saw a raw talent, a lot of pace, lot of
transferred that onto the international stage.” affecting me, but let’s hope they don’t change energy and raw aggression, good kicking skills
them back,” he laughed. and aerial skills.
in some ways it was all kickstarted not going
to france just over a year ago. “i went back to “there is a lot more chasing and kicking, i “at the time we had stefan terblanche here,
the ospreys when i was left out of the world think dealing with the high balls is a lot more a foreign player, we needed a full back and
cup and had a chat with lyn Jones and sean important with the bombs going up and we wanted a welsh player - lee is from our
holley,” explained byrne. teams kicking until you make a mistake. region so we went heavily for him.

l
ee Byrne “we put some goals together, i knew i had “it is important to win these kicking battles “we play in a slightly different way at the
the ability and what i was capable of doing so now, that is part of my game and if i carry on ospreys, both in attack and defence, and it
it was just a matter of being more consistent doing that then i will be very happy. has suited his game. he has worked so hard
SW
in my game. to get to the status he has now.
20
“i know the lions tour is to south africa, but
“when warren gatland came over it was a i have not looked at whether games are being “Two things changed - the confidence in his
fresh slate for me. he did not know me and
sportingwales
issue5twothousand&nine
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