The 30-year-old has come back earlier than expected from a broken hand picked up playing for the Ospreys to line up against the Springboks after originally being told he would miss the opening three autumn internationals.

And after missing the 2009 autumn programme with a ligament injury Byrne revealed how he thought history would repeat itself this year.

“As your career goes on you don't know whether it will be your last game for Wales,” said Byrne.

“Obviously I knew that something was broke [against Glasgow].

“When I went to the hospital and had the x-ray and [then them] telling me I was out for the autumn I thought: 'Here we go again. It it's going to be another autumn sitting on the sidelines'.

“So I was really pleased to get another chance and hopefully go out there on the weekend we can get a victory.

“I've had a lot of injuries in the past but they seem to heel quite quick when I do have them. So touch wood there won't be many more.

“It's come on really well. The surgeon is really happy with it. It's all ready to go. I've done the contact, high ball catching, passing and it feels brilliant."