Byrne hits back at Lynagh’s lashings
WALLABIES skills coach Mick Byrne has hit back at Michael Lynagh’s scathing criticism by claiming his decade with the All Blacks proved to him Australia will turn a corner – and do it quickly.
Byrne admitted the performance in the 54- 34 loss to New Zealand on Saturday in Sydney wasn’t “up to scratch” after Lynagh savaged the team in television commentary in England.
“I can’t over- estimate how angry I am at seeing an Australian team who have skills that are non- existent,” former Wallabies captain Lynagh said.
“Passing and catching and making tackles and trusting the bloke beside you are pretty basic, even at schoolboy level.”
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika didn’t want to bite back to the 1991 World Cup winner. “Where’s he? Over in England isn’t he?” Cheika said.
“If that’s how he feels, can’t change it except for what we do on the field.” Byrne, a former Hawthorn ruckman, joined the Wallabies as skills coach last year following 10 years and two World Cup wins with New Zealand.
“When you’re talking about a dropped pass or a missed tackle they’re skillsets, and yeah, they weren’t up to scratch,” Byrne said. “When you’re out there as a group working on changing habits, there is a period of time when sometimes it’s not acceptable. And I understand that.”
Just as he did with the Kiwis in 2006, Byrne’s role has been to rebuild the skill levels and habits of the Wallabies, and he said that layer- upon- layer work took time.
While it may not be apparent in a shocker like Saturday night, Byrne is insistent that hard work is paying off and the Wallabies are now much more skilful than a year ago.