Shane reveals Byrne-ing desire

Shane Byrne admits he cannot wait to take revenge on the All Blacks.

Shane Byrne has fired a warning to the All Blacks, claiming that there is a score to be settled at Lansdowne Road.

However, the Saracens man is not referring to the spear tackle that cost fellow Irishman Brian O'Driscoll his Lions tour.

Byrne is talking about the hurt that he felt after three hammerings from the New Zealand machine during the summer tour.

"I can't wait to play these guys again. In the summer we came off the pitch feeling it was our mistakes which cost us. If we hadn't made those mistakes maybe the games would have been tighter," suggested Byrne.

"It's a similar situation to Ireland's tour to South Africa last year - we lost both Tests which meant everyone was chomping at the bit when they came to Dublin in November, a game we won.

"We've got things to put right against New Zealand tomorrow. They're not unbeatable, as South Africa proved during the Tri-Nations in the summer.

"Nobody gives us a chance against New Zealand. We have to prove people wrong. I couldn't care less if they have made 15 changes for tomorrow. If we win, it will go down in the record book that we beat New Zealand."

The experienced hooker was far from blameless in the first of three Tests won by New Zealand, as his usually faultless line-out capitulated under intense All Black pressure.

One senses some personal pride is at stake at Byrne faces up to the Kiwis once again, and a first ever victory against Graham Henry's men would be the perfect tonic.

"It's amazing how much something like that can hurt you because that first Test was seen as a complete disaster for myself.

"I took the criticism on the chin. My responsibility was the line-out and every facet of that broke down. The quality was there in our line-out so I felt we should have got nearly every one on our own throw.

"Luckily that wasn't the end of it as I was involved in the final two Tests. I'd say the Lions pack in the third Test got on top of the All Black pack, but that wasn't reflected in the score."