WEEKEND BREAKDOWN

BYRNE IDENTITY IS TAKING SHAPE

IT’S shaping up to be Ollie Campbell versus Tony Ward all over again. We have been banging on here for ages about how Ross Byrne may prove the better long-term bet as starting Ireland out-half than Joey Carbery and Saturday has strengthened that conviction. Carbery (like Ward in his day) is gifted — capable of doing things most 10s cannot and has attracted all the hype. However, in terms of replacing Johnny Sexton down the road, Byrne has a Campbell-like poise and unruffled authority about his play that sets him apart. Making his debut off the bench in Chicago, he immediately looked like he belonged on the loftiest stage. IT’S gone under the radar but Ulster pulled off a serious result with their win in Treviso. The Italians are no longer a soft touch, especially at home, and with Italy sending a second-string side to Chicago, Treviso were well stocked. For a youthful Ulster to win suggests a steel absent for far too long.

EDDIE CLOSES IN ON ‘MATT’ FINISH

EDDIE JONES was asked if the win over South Africa was his ‘most important’ as England boss, here’s how he replied... ‘I don’t understand this, Why does it have to be the “most important”? Because you guys (the media) want to sack me, is that why? You’re going to do it at some stage, you’re going to get me sacked, one day you’re going to be happy.’ There was more than a whiff of fellow Aussie Matt O’Connor in that self-delusional spiel. When Jones does get the boot it won’t be the media’s doing.

TEAM OF THE WEEKEND

15 J Larmour (Ire); 14 G North (Wal), 13 J Davies (Wal), 12 N Laumape (NZ), 11 S Nkosi (SA); 10 Y Tamura (Jap), 9 B Youngs (Eng); 1 S Kitschoff (SA), 2 D Coles (NZ), 3 A Ta’veo (NZ); 4 T Beirne (Ire); 5 G Kruis (Eng), 6 R Ruddock (Ire), 7 J Tipuric (Wal), 8 J Conan (Ire).