Byrne: We can beat the best (From South Wales Argus)

Byrne: We can beat the best

11:14am Monday 1st December 2008

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

WALES’ man of the match Lee Byrne believes they can beat the best in the world after their victory over Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

After the close call against world champions South Africa and a superb first half against the All Blacks Byrne was delighted the team produced an 80-minute performance at the third time of asking against one of the southern hemisphere superpowers.

After producing a stirring second half against South Africa and a compelling first half against New Zealand, Wales finally strung it together for the full game in their 21-18 victory over Australia.

“The feeling in the dressing-room is that it’s been coming for the first two games,” said Byrne. “We were disappointed that we could have won the first two but hadn’t got the result, but on Saturday we came away with the win we wanted.

“We’d like results like that every time. It was an 80-minute performance, the defence was unbelievable, a lot of players put their bodies on the line and this time we got the balance right.

“The coaches are very happy, we had targeted one big game, though I had wanted to win every one. I’m learning every time, we can beat the best in the world, it’s what we want. We played rugby in all three games and should have got the result against South Africa.

“We have handled the pressure, in the past that was a problem, but now we know we are capable of beating the top three teams.”

Byrne has been in such commanding form during the autumn series that he is being hailed as a certainty for the Lions in South Africa next summer, and is even being compared with the illustrious JPR Williams.

“I’m delighted with my form, it’s been a big year and I want to push on, I’m learning all the time,” he admitted. “I’m lucky to be around some great coaches and it’s nice to be mentioned with JPR, but I want to be myself, it’s all about winning.

“Every player will be targeting a Lions spot, but my ambition is with the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup, then Wales in the Six Nations.

“It’s too far away thinking about the Lions.

“But I’m playing with some great players, I’m lucky to be around them and that will bring the best out of me.”

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)