Absolutely correct. He won't be costing the earth and he's having his first real blip, in a young career, playing in possibly the toughest position on the field for younger players. If you're going to bring young prop forwards through and support them through the ups and downs, around the ages of 20-24, you then want to reap the benefits of them coming in to their prime. The only thing Byrne should not be IMO is a guaranteed starter but his place in the squad should be safe. The squad hasn't been strong enough to push him for his place but it should be going forward and he will need to produce the goods to get a place in the 17.

If we’re giving Eckersley a shot, now would seem the time. We need to win the majority of our games, so there won’t be many opportunities after this.

I’d agree with that sentiment to an extent but on the other hand if he’s putting his hand up to play he must be up to standard which he just hasn’t been. Playing with painkilling injections must be tough and I tip my hat to him but equally he should be honest and say he can’t do it and needs a rest. On top of that Peet should have made that call so for me both are at fault here.

I sincerely hope he does prove me and others wrong. I’d have no qualms about admitting that either if he did.

Realistically I guess players are playing busted most of the time, especially in the pack but I do think this news probably gives us an insight in to why he’s not looked himself. He could pull himself out or Peet could’ve done but at times, we’ve had Byrne in the 17 being the only prop most people have faith in. We’ve lost Cooper, we’ve seen Ellis and Havard absent a lot, Mago and Singleton have been poor and then it’s kids and you have to decide what’s more damaging, playing a lad who isn’t fully fit or going with 3 or 4 forwards under the age of 20/21 in your 17 man squad.

Fingers crossed this rest does the trick and we see him back to his best in a few weeks.

I just watched that. Wasn't he good? A real pocket rocket.