Shane Byrne is a maverick, has been since his school days. He luxuriates in being different, from his trademark long hair to his strong views on rugby. Both have led to conflict with officialdom.

While blazered perceptions may have hindered his career from time to time, few will dispute the hooker's claim to be one of Leinster's most influential performers over the past seven years.

A measure of the consistency that he has brought to the pitch can be gleaned from the 72 competitive matches in which he has donned the Leinster jersey - comfortably more than any other player in the province's rugby history. He is therefore perfectly placed to evaluate Leinster's changing European fortunes over the past 18 months.

"I think one of the most pronounced changes has been the role of the Leinster Branch during that time. They have got behind the players in a very definite way. If the players required something then they ensured that we got it. It was no longer `them and us'.

"They have been fantastic. One of the best things that has happened is that they provided us with a base, Anglesea Road, to train and prepare for matches and the ancillary facilities are all on site. A great deal of credit must go to Mike Ruddock for the work he put in during his time.

"When Matt Williams arrived last season, it was the icing on the cake, allowing us to make great progress. His input allowed the backs to spark and suddenly we were a more complete team. It also coincided with Leinster nailing down a team in personnel terms.

"Last season we left it too late, despite a great finish. This year Emmet Farrell got injured but we have threatened to turn it around in the nick of time. By losing to Edinburgh (in their first game) we have put our lives on the line in every subsequent match, and that extends to Friday night's game against Northampton at Donnybrook and beyond.

"The Edinburgh match was quite confusing. We won every one of our lineouts and some of theirs, we scrumagged magnificently, played most of the rugby yet couldn't put points on the board. There can be no excuses, we should have won the match."

Byrne points out that it was the players who needed to sort themselves out in the aftermath. "We had a players' meeting after the team one and that's where all the effing and blinding came out. We put it up to ourselves. In fairness Biarritz were not very good but we didn't let them do much.

"We did most things right. Matt (Williams) had sealed up the holes from the Edinburgh game and we studied their style. It was about time that things clicked."

Victory over Northampton followed and suddenly Leinster are threatening to ape their fine run of last season. How do they compare to previous sides on which Byrne has played? "I wouldn't like to place them just yet. I think what you can say is that there is a tremendous amount of individual talent and the potential there, but Leinster teams have been long on potential over the years.

"This weekend against Northampton is another huge match. There's going to be a backlash but if we can impose our style on them rather than defending theirs, then we can keep moving forward."

Byrne's curriculum vitae includes cup medals at school in Blackrock College and caps for Ireland at Under-21, Colleges, Students and "A" level. He has been on the full international replacements bench for five matches: three victories over Wales, one against France and once against the USA in Atlanta. Byrne toured Australia with Ireland in 1994, when called up mid-tour as a replacement, and also travelled to South Africa in 1998.

Cherished memories include his second cap for Leinster, when, as a 20-year-old, he faced the Australians and battled with Phil Kearns. "I suppose one of the others would be our victory over Leicester (last season), and another would be the semi-final at Lansdowne Road in the inaugural European Cup (Leinster lost 23-14 to Cardiff).

"When we scored our try that night, I remember it being the loudest cheer I ever heard on a rugby pitch. It is the only time that a crowd has ever moved me on a rugby pitch.

"And then there was the Barbarians match last season. It was a fantastic occasion. The only thing that took the sheen off it was that a week earlier they had decided not to award caps. Obviously winning a cap would be the ultimate ambition.

"At this stage I would have to be lucky, rather than getting there on merit. I desperately want to win one but realise the need for a little good fortune. That's on a personal level but in a team context I would dearly love to be involved in a Leinster team that finally shows its true potential.

"I've played with a lot of good Leinster teams that haven't taken the next step - I haven't been on one that fulfilled it's potential. Munster must be the inspiration for all of us. They didn't let themselves down by losing in the European Cup final. Instead it was a fantastic achievement and they were just unlucky.

"Friday night offers us an opportunity to take another big step. We have to take that just like we have taken the previous two since Edinburgh."