Lee Byrne speaks to Sport Wales which returns to our screens on Friday

Wales full-back Lee Byrne has paid tribute to coach Warren Gatland for rescuing his international career.

Gatland recalled Byrne for last year's Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign after being snubbed for the 2007 World Cup by previous coach Gareth Jenkins.

And now the 28-year-old goes into the opening Six Nations weekend a favourite to feature on this summer's Lions tour.

"If it had been anybody else coaching Wales, then I strongly believe I wouldn't have been picked," said Byrne.

"It was great that a coach from outside came in, someone who didn't know anything about me or my history," Byrne told BBC Wales' Sport Wales programme.

"All he had seen of me was my form going into that Six Nations tournament which had been good.

"He didn't take any past experiences or matches I'd played for Wales into account. He wanted to start afresh and he told me that.

"I'm sure there were people telling him not to pick me, but he didn't take any notice and gave me a fair crack. I felt straight away that I wanted to repay him for that."

Ospreys star Bryne is set to win his 23rd cap when Wales begin the defence of their championship title against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Former Wales full-back and captain Paul Thorburn has described Byrne as the best full-back he has ever seen.

And JPR Williams claimed Byrne was the most impressive full-back to wear the Wales shirt in the past 30 years.

But the former Bridgend Athletic, Tondu and Scarlets player says his Test career had stalled until Gatland brought him in from the cold this time last year.

He said: "He's a totally honest guy who will pick you if you're playing well or training well and tell you if you're not.

"If you're not training well in camp then he won't pick you.

"Before, maybe, you could get away with only going at 50 or 60 per cent in training and still get picked - especially if you had 50 caps or 100 caps, you'd be in before the person with five caps.

"But now everyone is even and that's great for players coming up through the ranks."

*Sport Wales returns on Friday, 6 February on BBC TWO Wales at 2100 GMT

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