Six Nations new boy Shane Byrne will emerge from Keith Wood's shadow on Saturday to prove that patience is a virtue. Leinster hooker Byrne replaces Wood in Ireland's front row for the Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship match against Italy after the Irish skipper withdrew from the squad because of a back injury.
It will be Byrne’s first start in a Six Nations match, nine years after his first call-up to the Irish international squad. Byrne, 30, did not win his first cap until last summer against Romania and three substitute appearances have followed, with Munster's Frankie Sheahan preferred to him in Wood's absence this season.
But with Ireland's line-out coming in for fierce criticism, Sheahan has to settle for a place on the bench with Byrne delighted to be stepping up to the plate. "I first got on the Irish squad in 1993 so it's been a long time coming and it makes it all the better," Byrne said. "I've been on all the tours - Australia, World Cups, things like that – but never picked on one of them, courtesy of Mr Wood. So this is fantastic, definitely the highlight."
After so many disappointments Byrne admitted to losing faith several times. "But only for very short periods of time. I was still doing something I love and whether you're getting the fruits of your labour or not you're still enjoying playing the game. I'm just thrilled it's paying off now," Byrne added. "If I got caps years ago I can't imagine it feeling any better than it does now."
Byrne also insists there is no point in trying to fill Wood's boots. "Keith does what Keith does better than anyone else and you have to accept that. You'd be a stupid man to think otherwise. My battle isn't against Keith, it's between myself and Frankie, and I'm just happy I got the nod for this game."
Byrne is relishing the prospect of going head-to-head with the Italian pack. "It's always good and physical, and I wouldn't have it any other way," he said. "They don't mind letting it show how they feel about the game. It will be a very tough battle up front but we'll start the way we intend to finish, at absolutely 100%. We'll get stuck into them straight away, not show any hint of weakness and not give them any chance of getting the lead."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
