Ross Byrne faces “a pivotal moment” in his career when the Leinster defender faces Toulouse in the Champions Cup final on Saturday and can finally emerge from Johnny Sexton’s shadow, Irish rugby great Hugo MacNeill told AFP.
The fate of the trophy in the much-anticipated meeting between five-time champions Toulouse and four-time champions Leinster largely depends, says MacNeill, on who will win the battle of the defenders.
Toulouse have the A List duo of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack at scrum-half and midfield respectively against the “excellent” Jamison Gibson-Park and the inconsistent Byrne.
Byrne, 29, like many who challenged the now-retired Sexton at both provincial and international level, came second and that clearly had an impact.
“Sexton cast a very big shadow and it was not easy for Byrne to replicate that or impose himself in such a short space of time,” MacNeill told AFP by phone.
While players like Ian Madigan and Joey Carbery left to get more playing time, Byrne resisted, but apparently to his detriment, as at last year’s Rugby World Cup he dropped from Ireland’s second choice to third-choice flyhalf. field.
That’s why MacNeill says Saturday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is absolutely crucial for Byrne.
It offers him the opportunity to wrest the Ireland shirt from young Jack Crowley, who was first choice during Ireland’s campaign to win the Six Nations title this year.
37-times capped MacNeill – a member of the Triple Crown-winning teams of 1982 and 1985 – says it depends on which Byrne turns up.
Will it, says MacNeill, be the one that inspired Leinster to defeat two-time champions La Rochelle in the quarter-finals?
Or will it be the playmaker who collapsed when big leads slipped away against La Rochelle in last year’s final – Leinster led 17-0 after 12 minutes but lost 27-26 – and Northampton in this season’s semi-final when they had a lead up 15-3 at halftime only to come home 20-17?
“It’s a pivotal moment for Byrne and his career,” MacNeill said.
“He has a chance to leave a permanent mark or he could be left to lick his wounds.
“It could decide who wears the number 10 shirt for Leinster in the coming years, him or Sam Prendergast,” added the 65-year-old former Leinster defender.
– ‘Smart Options’ –
MacNeill, who has also been capped three times by the British and Irish Lions, says Byrne has to do what he did against La Rochelle in their 40-13 quarter-final victory.
“Byrne has to take his penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking and also move his team forward,” MacNeill said.
“He has to repeat what he did against La Rochelle and failed to do against Northampton, alleviate the growing fear on the pitch and among his teammates.”
MacNeill says the uncertainty surrounding Byrne contrasts sharply with that of Ntamack, who is back to his best after injury prevented him from attending the World Cup.
“He faces Ntamack, who is an experienced international, with no doubts about his place in the team, whether at club or country level,” MacNeill said.
“In my opinion, Toulouse are favourites, especially if Dupont and Ntamack can set the pace.
“Leinster will have some hope of competing if Gibson-Park are at their best and get some rhythm.
“Gibson-Park and Byrne have to get in there from the start and assert themselves.”
For MacNeill, Dupont, back from sevens duty with France, is “at the top of his game and called all the shots in the semi-final victory over Harlequins”, but Gibson-Park is also a formidable operator.
“He is absolutely fundamental to the success of Ireland and Leinster,” MacNeill said.
“He brings speed and rhythm to the game and generally makes smart choices, finds space.
“Jamison stepped up and filled the void following Johnny Sexton’s retirement.
“It’s clear his teammates have as much respect for him as they do for Sexton.”
“He is one of the most, if not the most, influential scrum-halves in the northern hemisphere.”
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