Six Nations place was a dream come true for Byrne

Mar 16 2008 Wales On Sunday

LEE BYRNE admitted the battle against the French left the Welsh squad drained.

“It was one of the most exhausting games I have played in and the boys were out on their feet at the end,” he added.

“France hung in there but we have got over the final hurdle.

“The good thing about it is that we did not concede any more tries.

“We only had two against us which is a tournament record and that is a fantastic achievement.

“When we scored that try at the end it really sunk in because until then they were in it all the way.

“We always fancied ourselves at home and we see the Millennium Stadium as a fortress and that is the way we want to keep it.”

And Byrne also had words of praise for his record-breaking Ospreys teammate Shane Williams.

“Shane is brilliant and the best player I have ever played with,” added Byrne.

“To see what he can do on the field is amazing and it is great for him that he broke the record because he deserved it.”

Byrne admitted that for him personally the Six Nations represented a fairytale return to the international stage.

He was left out of the World Cup squad but restored to the starting line-up by coach Warren Gatland and has repaid the faith shown in him with five outstanding displays.

“It has been a bit of a fairytale,” admitted the Ospreys full-back.

“I have played every minute of the tournament and if you had said that to me at the beginning of the Six Nations I probably would have laughed.

“And the fact we have won the Grand Slam has not sunk in.

“It is the best feeling I have had on a rugby field and it will probably live with me forever.

“It is great to see seven weeks hard work paying off and we are now European champions.”