IT ALL started so innocently. Lee Byrne and Stephen Ferris were extolling the virtues of the altitude training they’d been enduring prior to arriving in South Africa, explaining in equal measure the minutiae of routines and the benefits derived from the exertions. It centred on bikes, rowing machines and masks.
Ireland and Ulster flanker Ferris then had the floor when explaining how he’d used the chamber facilities at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. Having suffered a dead leg while playing for his province against Connacht in a Magners League game, he embraced some boxing drills to keep up his cardiovascular exercise.
He smiled: “It was good to get that boxing element in because you know it will be rough on the pitch as well in the tussles. It was pretty tough going. I worked up a good sweat.”
It was suggested that he had been watching the wrong videos, choosing the occasionally x-rated 1974 Lions tour rather than the 1997 clashes with the Springboks.
Ferris admitted he was surprised by the ease and speed with which the individuals integrated into what is essentially a scratch squad, a sentiment endorsed by Byrne. Last week in London, the Lions worked individually, as units and also underwent team training sessions on the pitch and enjoyed a few beers off it, most notably when watching the Heineken Cup final.
The Irishman is enthused about the prospect of playing with opponents he previously admired before stressing that “there are a lot of other good guys here and the experience they’ve got (is invaluable); the potential and talent is there”.
When asked about Paul O’Connell’s captaincy, Ferris pointed out he doesn’t expect any alterations in style. “I think he’ll bring the same as he did with Ireland. Himself and Brian (O’Driscoll) got on really well and they shared the workload a good bit. Paul’s a great motivator and all the guys here will feed off that. I know I certainly do.
“There will be so many guys who will be able to help him out. It would be unfair for Paul to have us on his shoulders. Everyone needs to pitch in and give him a hand. Everyone has been doing that.”
Lee Byrne has only played one match – for the Ospreys – since pulling up injured in the last game of the Six Nations Championship against Ireland but viewed the setback as a blessing in disguise. It allowed him to do extra conditioning work and, refreshed, he is itching to get back out on the pitch.
He accepted the suggestion that the Welsh-dominated backroom team would have a positive impact but was quick to scotch the next assertion that an all-Ospreys back three is the likely Test combination. “It’s great playing with the likes of Shane (Williams) as World Player of the Year and Tommy (Bowe) who joined us from Ulster but you have got the likes of Ugo Monye, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney; they’re all great players. It’s going to be a top battle to get that Test jersey and whoever does, I’ll support them (if it is not me) because that’s what this squad is all about.”
