Ross Byrne can’t remember the last time he lost four games in a row.

Defeats with Leinster never came in quantities greater than two. High-profile, season-ending defeats in Europe were painful but generally preceded by victories.

In new digs at Gloucester, Byrne’s stint in the west country has started with four losses on the spin. It’s one of a number of changes after handing in his blue shirt for a cherry and white one.

Having lived in Goatstown and Ranelagh while calling UCD and the RDS his workplace, a move from Dublin’s rugby bubble to Cheltenham is the most obvious place to start. The diminished media interest in the English club game also comes up. Byrne is no longer recognised walking down the street.

On the pitch, a squad full of Ireland internationals has been swapped for one of England’s most inexperienced groups. Tactical changes, structures, coaching parlance; it’s all new. Goal-setting has also seen a dramatic change. Gloucester are undoubtedly keen for silverware, but perspectives are different here.

“Europe hasn’t been mentioned once,” says Byrne. “In Leinster – and I’m not saying one is right or wrong – everything was focused towards that. Here, when Europe comes up we’ll talk about it, but obviously the league is week-in, week-out.

“That’s a big change, the competitive nature of the league as well, which we’re on the receiving end of at the moment.”

On the face of it, Byrne’s reasoning behind leaving Leinster seems obvious.