Byrne expects more this time

SHANE BYRNE INTERVIEW: JOHNNY WATTERSONmeets the former hooker who was on the receiving end in 2005 when Leicester faced Leinster. It will be different this time, he says

HOOKER SHANE Byrne faced George Chuter. Reggie Corrigan was in against Graham Rowntree and Ricky Nebbett scrummed down against Darren Morris at tighthead. Four years ago the Leicester pack’s back five were monoliths of the game, captain Martin Johnson, Louis Deacon, Lewis Moody, Neil Back and Martin Corry. If there were any Leinster flaws in that Lansdowne Road Heineken Cup quarter-final against the Tigers, Byrne believes they will not be repeated in Murrayfield on Saturday.

“Our preparation in 2005 went very well. It was a very smooth run-in,” he says. “Looking back there was just a slight bit of ‘we’ll contain them’ rather than going for it. In our quarter-final I think we tried to hold out. I don’t think you can do that against Leicester. They are very patient, they take their time and they’ll pounce. I don’t think Leinster will go into the match with that attitude this time.

“I also think history doesn’t count at all in this game. It’s a clean slate. And Leinster have turned a corner. They turned the corner against Harlequins. To defend like that, the way they had to defend . . . to hold a team out when they had no ball took a real want. There is a sense of finality with this Leinster team. The core of the team has taken that on board. It has been a long history but lessons have been learned along the way.”

Byrne will travel to the match on Friday by ferry and motorbike, a Triumph Rocket, before returning on Sunday on what he hopes will be the “slow boat home after a night of celebrations”.

He sees a Leicester team that won the English Premiership over the weekend against London Irish as a team that needs to improve. “London Irish did enough to win that game,” he says. “Geordan Murphy (Leicester captain) was right in what he said after the game. To say Leinster would wipe them off the park if they played like that again was dramatic but I agree with him in that they (Leicester) do need to do more. But I’d also prefer to have Leicester. There will be absolutely no relaxing in Leinster focus, while they’ve already played Cardiff twice this season.”

“Sure Leicester knows how to win,” says Byrne, “their Heineken Cup record speaks for itself. They’re very physical. Very set-piece-oriented, although over the years they’ve more of a back-line game. They have to be respected for what they’ve done but Leicester have to raise their game. Leinster don’t. What they have to do is replicate their game against Munster.”

The former Lions Test hooker now sees a Leinster team not only equipped to win but also a side that believes the time is now. That’s no small thing. “(Jonathan) Sexton has to play well. So far he’s stepped up,” he says. “He’d a cracking game when he came on against Munster and continued that in the Magners League. Rocky Elsom has, single-handed, raised the form of the pack. He has a great style of direct rugby.

“Key players are there and the knowledge of Leicester from Leo (Cullen)and Shane (Jennings) will be crucial. Cian Healy has been a revelation. It won’t be long before he’s wearing a green shirt. All Leinster have to do is get 50-50 out of the scrum, but the lineout needs to perform much better.”

Byrne sees an aggressive, willing Leinster team as a winning force: “Make Leicester reel,” he says. “Put them on the back foot. Get in their face and Leinster will win.” And it all sounds so simple.