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Bristol explain the No1 trait necessary to regularly make a success of trial signings like Bryan Byrne
Much is made about how Pat Lam splashes the cash to recruit big at Bristol, Kyle Sinckler, Charles Piutau and Semi Radradra just some of their numerous billboard names of recent vintage recruited at Ashton Gate, but just as important at the Gallagher Premiership leaders is how they also cannily stock their roster with lesser-known players such as Bryan Byrne.
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The hooker from Leinster is typical of the punt Lam likes to take on unheralded players from elsewhere, operators whose talents are not that visible as they haven’t had an opportunity to consistently shine and really show their true worth.
It was February last year when Byrne initially hopped across the Irish Sea to Bristol on a short-term loan. That quickly became a permanent deal and the 27-year-old hasn’t looked back since. He only ever started eight PRO14 games in a half-dozen seasons at Leinster where hookers are two a penny but in 13 months at Bristol, there have been 13 Premiership starts and another two in the Heineken Champions Cup.
He’s not the only Irish success at the club either, Niyi Adeolokun reviving a career that appeared finished when he was released by Connacht last May, and the prospecting is continuing, ex-Ireland U20 forward Tadgh McElroy arriving the other week at the Bears on a short-term trial and he is already registered for their Heineken Champions Cup squad.
A former league-winning coach at Connacht, Lam has no qualms about scoping the Irish market to seek out a few hidden gems and the immense value of Byrne – a twin brother of recently capped Ireland prop Ed – is evident in how he has capably offset the recent unavailability of the established Bristol No2, Harry Thacker.
There has been some post-Six Nations fun this week at the Bristol training centre where an update has also been issued regarding Semi Radradra's likely comeback#SixNations #PremRugbyhttps://t.co/35j7gccEhU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 24, 2021
“The thing about spending time in Ireland is there is a lot of quality rugby players there,” explained Lam. “Leinster reminded me of when I was coming through at Auckland, there is so much talent but you can’t fit everybody in – and I saw Bryan play a couple of times against Connacht.
“There was a lot of guys ahead of him so sometimes there are players that are perceived better and the others don’t get that opportunity. That is why during the whole thing at Connacht I used to talk about if your dream is to play for Ireland you need to be in that shop window. Player movement now is a lot more since (IRFU boss) David Nucifora has come in but at the time before then hardly anyone would move. They were quite happy to play at Leinster A and that.
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“Now you find players who want the opportunity and are desperate for the opportunity and then you provide them with the programme. Bryan was looking for the chance to play and he came over on a trial, we did a short-term, he connected really well, he learned the game and he has developed physically and his whole game so we were happy to keep him on.
“The No1 traits that all of these guys have, the ones we have picked up from the Championship and from different places, is they have ambition. They want a chance, they want an opportunity. Then the next thing is finding they all have coachability because they have that ambition, they want to learn.
“A lot of guys go ‘I have big dreams’ but they don’t want to do the work and they want to do it their way. All of these guys (Bristol bring in) have the same attributes and my role in this with the whole Bears high performance centre is about driving the staff because if you have got quality staff and the players are coachable, the magic happens and that is what we have seen.
“Everyone wants clarity. Even in your own roles as media guys you want to know exactly what the people employ you or what your boss wants and you want feedback so if you provide those things and everyone is clear, away we go.”
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Pat Lam has bolstered his Bears with a loan signing and a trialist with a very intriguing backstory#PremRugby
https://t.co/Q7KRCL8IY8— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 11, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments