MY PAYNE GAME

Ireland’s Kiwi Lion expecting baptism of fire

IRELAND centre Jared Payne has admitted he expects abuse from the stands when he plays for the Lions tomorrow morning on his old Eden Park stomping ground.

The New Zealander was part of the Pat Lam set-up at the Auckland-based Blues before he took up a money-spinning 2011 offer at Ulster, turning his back on his chances of becoming an All Black and instead becoming Irish-qualified in 2014 under residency.

Now he’s back in the land of his birth and set to wear the Lions red for the first time, his tweaked calf sufficiently recovered for him to take his place in an entirely changed XV from the selection that laboured to an ugly opening tour win last Saturday in Whangarei.

‘My mates will probably be the worst out of any of them to be honest,’ said Payne when asked if he fears a barracking when he plays at Eden Park six years after he called it quits with the Blues.

‘They are an unforgiving bunch and they would love to see me get smashed by someone. It would

make their day. I’d imagine I will get a bit [of abuse], but it’s all good fun.’ Without a match since April 7, Payne relinquished an opportunity to shake off the cobwebs last Saturday, the decision taken to rest up a training ground twinge rather than take the place on the bench he was selected for. That could prove a wise course of action in the long run, as most of the Lions who did play harmed their Test selection chances. However, Payne claims victory for the Lions in tomorrow’s second tour match is more important than him playing well in a side containing three other Irish starters, CJ Stander, Jack McGrath and Robbie Henshaw. ‘Winning,’ replied Payne when asked what a good day back at his old office would be. ‘If you play well and lose it’s no good. I’m happy to play badly and win.’ Payne is part of an all-Irish midfield and Warren Gatland is hoping they can engineer a more clinical attack than was witnessed last Saturday. ‘One of the reasons Payne was picked was because of his experience and being involved with the Blues. He has also played in big games that Ireland have won,’ said Gatland. ‘He has been one of the key components of their success, and Henshaw has been outstanding. He is a quality player and he is more than someone who can get across the gainline. He has real skill and we want to see that.’