Dublin: Wallabies skills coach Mick Byrne says the most pleasing thing about his short time in the national set-up thus far has been the desire of Australian players to embrace the "daunting" task of changing their techniques in the middle of a Test season.
The Wallabies signed Byrne in late July as a specialist skills coach, something the team had not previously had.
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Wallabies thrilled with Kuridrani's form
Coach Michael Cheika praises Tevita Kuridrani's acrobatics during Australia's 25-23 defeat of France in Paris.
Byrne's success with the All Blacks was one of the major reasons why the ARU wanted to bring him back to Australia and since joining Michael Cheika and his team, the Wallabies have won six from 10 Tests.
The drills he has implemented at training are significantly different to what other Australian squads have done in the past and there is an unmistakable AFL flavour about the former Melbourne, Hawthorn and Sydney ruckman's work.
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It would not be off the mark to say the Wallabies are benefiting from Byrne's tuition, particularly in the catching and passing department.
Byrne said it was not the easiest task to come into a new environment and try to convince players to do things differently, but he has been impressed with a willingness to learn across the board.
"Some of the senior players, they've got some pretty strong belief systems that they've worked on for maybe eight or nine years and some players in the case of Stephen [Moore] has played over 100 Tests," Byrne said.
"When you come in and ask them to change a little bit of their technique it can be a bit daunting, especially when you come in during Test matches.
"But every single player has had a go, has worked hard to make those little changes to tweak their technique. I really believe that professional players really enjoy the challenge of learning new things and trying to achieve new things. That's been the most pleasing thing; the attitude to adopt the changes."
Byrne works closely with backs and forwards alike and was asked if he took any credit for Tevita Kuridrani's superb diving try in the right corner on Saturday night against France.
"No, they're the things you put down to uncoachable areas," Byrne said. "That was an outstanding try, an outstanding finish. Some players just have a desire to get the ball across the line and that's what that was. Outstanding to watch."
Byrne, who coached here in the 1990s, said he wasn't wasn't overly surprised by Ireland's historic 40-29 victory against the All Blacks.
I really believe that professional players really enjoy the challenge of learning new things and trying to achieve new things
Mick Byrne
Australia face a mammoth task against an Irish side littered with talent and plenty of confidence after ending New Zealand's world record winning streak in Chicago – a result Byrne said he was actually happy to see.
"I was here when they [Ireland] nearly beat the All Blacks a couple of years ago so it's been coming," Byrne said. "That was an itch for Ireland that needed to be scratched and they scratched it pretty well. I know how disappointed they were a couple of years ago when Aaron Cruden converted a try in time-on. They did really well that day.
"Under [coach] Joe [Schmidt] they're playing a really great brand of rugby. They're challenging every team they play. You've got to make your tackles against them, they work very hard. I think it was great for Irish rugby and for Joe because I called Joe after that game a couple of years ago and he was a devastated man. I'm glad he's been able to get that monkey off his back."
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