RORY RECKONS ROSS IS READY TO RISE TO OCCASION

RORY O’LOUGHLIN has backed Ross Byrne to shine if he makes his Ireland debut this weekend – a decade after seeing something special in his former St Michael’s schoolmate.

The Leinster out-half, 23, is likely to win his first cap against Italy in Chicago on Saturday, having toured Australia during the summer without making his bow.

Blues team-mate O’loughlin, who played with Byrne (left) throughout their school days, said: “You could tell his skill-set was always above his age-grade, he could catch and pass and kick better than most players on the team and that got him on to teams before he was physically ready.

“He was 13 playing for my Junior Cup team and he nearly won us the Junior Cup with a drop goal.

“He just missed it, but for a 13-year-old to even attempt that, you just knew he had confidence in himself at such a young age.

“You always kind of knew it (an Ireland debut) would happen at some stage.

“He might have had a few set-backs a couple of seasons ago but it is well-deserved.”