IRELAND AND LEINSTER OUT HALF Ross Byrne has admitted that he believed that he'd never get to wear an Ireland jersey again before his match winning kick against Australia.
27-year-old Byrne has had to bide his time in an Ireland jersey because of the depth of talent at 10 at international level.
The Dubliner has fallen down the pecking order to the likes of Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery and even Munster's Jack Crowley more recently, but a match winning penalty against Australia highlighted how talented the Leinster player is and could become for his country.
Byrne has been in and out of Ireland squads since making his test debut in 2020. He was drafted in as an emergency for the Australia game due to injuries to Sexton and Carbery.
Speaking about the kick against Australia, Byrne explained to Irish publication The 42.ie why it meant so much to him
Ireland's Ross Byrne on that winning penalty against Australia: ‘I knew straight away I was going for it’ (via @IrishTimesSport) https://t.co/y5nlty8x6d
— Irish Times Sport (@IrishTimesSport) December 3, 2022
“That’s why the kick meant so much".
“My Ireland career up until that was a disappointment. It has been pretty frustrating and there haven’t really been any highs other than my first cap, very few moments.
“To have that moment, that’s what you dream about when you think of playing for Ireland. It was special and it has given me a taste for me.”
“When the penalty was given, I was like, ‘Yes, this is the chance.’ All I wanted was an opportunity to play for Ireland again and there have been times where I thought it might never happen,” he added.
“I had to take my opportunity because at times in the past for Ireland, I hadn’t taken my opportunity. I just looked at it positively, ‘Go and do what you do.’
Leinster take on Racing 92 this Saturday in the Champions Cup.
The game kicks off at 13.00.
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