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5th March 2022
02:50pm GMT
"He hasn't done that this season, he's had injuries for Leinster this season, he's been selected but had to pull out, then another game he did play but got injured in. As a young out-half you need a lot of reps, you need a lot of minutes in the jersey and he's been deprived of both of those. "The Irish management obviously have high regard for him and he's been announced in the squad and they're looking to give him an opportunity, but it's very hard for the Irish management to do anything if the player himself can't present fit on the Monday of a Test week. "In that regard it's frustration for the player, it's frustration for the coach and for the whole team, because all the feedback on him is that he's an exceptional young player, but as you know at Test level it's very hard to talk about potential because you're not judged on potential, you're judged on the now."Not long after those O'Gara comments, Byrne did get his second cap in another healthy home win, over Argentina this time. Injuries have struck again, though, to impact on his season, and his Test ambitions. Against Benetton Treviso, this afternoon, Byrne lasted only 31 minutes before he had to be replaced by winger Dave Kearney. He went off clutching his ribs after first receiving treatment on the pitch. Having more than doubled his game minutes for Leinster, over his past four games, all involved with Byrne will be hoping his latest set-back does not sideline him too too. [caption id="attachment_247002" align="aligncenter" width="800"]
Ireland players, from left, Robert Baloucoune, Ryan Baird and Harry Byrne during the national anthem before the Autumn Nations Series match against Argentina, in November 2021. (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile)[/caption]
"Harry seems brave. He seems willing to have a go. He seems to trust his instincts and seems capable of getting his backline going. He seems fast and looks a good game manager. "He has an awful lot of strings to his bow, but his challenge will be his consistency of performance. Can he back up big game after big game after medium game after big game after medium game? "What I think young players fail to understand is that going from an 8/10 to a 2/10 doesn't work at Test level. Your bad days have to be 5/10 or 6/10. That's very important for Joey and Harry. They need to be 7/10, 7/10, 6/10, 8/10, 9/10, 8/10, 7/10, as opposed to 8/10, 2/10, 4/10, 8/10 – that just doesn't work."Fitness first, consistency next. Can't have one without the other. Fans, coaches, teammates and Harry Byrne will hope the latest injury does not keep him away for too long.
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