LEE Byrne heads into tomorrow's Six Nations finale in Cardiff, admitting he is under the biggest amount of pressure of his international career.

Twelve months ago the Ospreys star was seen as one of the leading full-backs in world rugby and a shoo-in for the British Lions Test team.

But this week, after seeing yellow in the heat of battle in Dublin, Byrne conceded that he feared for his place in Warren Gatland's starting line-up to face Italy at the Millennium Stadium.

"Since the game I was worried about not being picked and rightly so, I am just glad I have got a chance to put things right straight away. Some people aren't as fortunate," said Byrne.

Performance

"This is the most pressure I have ever come under in my international career. I need to put a performance in against Italy to justify why they have picked me again.

"It was a mistake (the sin-binning), something I regret, but I have to put it behind me and move on."

In the wake of the public furore and Warren Gatland's straight- talking stance on discipline that followed Alun Wyn Jones's yellow card in the championship opener against England at Twickenham, Byrne had every reason to feel concerned.

One former Wales captiain once told how one defeat left him seeking solace behind closed doors and not leaving the house for three days after the game.

And not so long ago battle- hardened Ospreys lock Ian Gough recounted a tale about being stopped in the supermarket and being told in no uncertain terms where Wales were going wrong.

Being ensconced in the Vale of Glamorgan throughout the championship does help, but Byrne admitted he has given his local Tesco a wide berth this week.

"To be honest, I haven't left the house yet, I have been too scared to leave. The curtains have been closed, the gates have been locked," smiled the 29-year-old.

"I have not seen anyone apart from one bloke in the garage who was shouting at me that I was on the back page of the newspaper,"

"People in Welsh rugby are passionate, the fans pay good money to watch games, people have their opinion and I just want to put things right on Saturday.

"Obviously, discipline has become an issue, with myself last weekend and going back to the England game.

"But two years ago we went down to 14 men twice against Ireland and didn't concede tries. People automatically think you have got to go 10 to 15 points down when you receive a yellow card.

"There is no excuse for what I did, but we still have to push on when we go down to 14 men."

The punishment for Wales's Croke Park shocker has been some gruelling training sessions at the Vale HQ.

On Monday, every dropped ball was met with lung-bursting diagonal sprints, which didn't make a couple of backs too popular with certain members of the Welsh pack.

"We needed a reality check and we have had that now and it is about putting things right against Italy on Saturday," added Byrne.

"Training was pretty tough this week, but we needed it.

"The problem we have had in the last few years is that it is either the Grand Slam or fourth in the championship and we need to break that sequence.

"England's draw against Scotland last weekend means we can't finish third this year, but we need to put in a good performance for the fans and give them something to cheer on the weekend because they deserve it."