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Dan Sheehan Locks Down Lions Starter Role As Surprise Pick Tipped To Join Him

Dan Sheehan Locks Down Lions Starter Role As Surprise Pick Tipped To Join Him
Patrick McCarry
By Patrick McCarry Updated
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All across Aviva Stadium, fans were gripping the person next to them and raving about Dan Sheehan, but he was not finished yet.

Ireland are still without Tadhg Furlong, and may have to wait until the France game to see him, but one-third of their strongest front row made a welcome return, albeit off the bench, on Saturday. Sheehan played his first Test minutes after last summer's awful ACL (knee) injury as his bench impact paid off in a big way.

The Leinster hooker replaced Rónan Kelleher after 49 minutes, with Ireland trailing England 10-5. Over the next 20 minutes, he popped up with big plays all over the pitch.

The highlight was a 15-second burst in which he put Jack Conan through a gap, in midfield, with a wonderful pass just inside the England half. He then slid towards the left wing and found James Lowe with a skip-pass before continuing his run, getting the ball back, and bulldozing poor Alex Mitchell to score in the corner.

"Sheeno," Ireland captain Caelan Doris exclaimed, after his side's 27-22 win. "What a quality player. We've missed him."

Ireland certainly did miss him, and that is saying something when you consider Kelleher has been in decent form and Gus McCarthy had a try-scoring and try-assisting debut, back in November. Sheehan adds an extra dimension and, knee strapping not a hindrance, glides around like an extra back.

Following Ireland's opening Six Nations victory, I asked Sheehan's teammate, Jack Conan about having the 26-year-old back.

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In fairness to Dinny, he's worked incredibly hard to get back. He was off doing boxing, and other things, to help with his foot-work. He was rehabbing in the early hours of the morning, then coming in to do double sessions (at Leinster). Through all the testing he's done, he is in the best shape of his life, he is running his best speeds and that's after not running in a while.

"Above everything, though, there's his mentality. You know, when you are not playing for such an extended period of time, it is so hard to come back and hit your straps, and just perform, straight off the bat."

"The work that he has done," Conan added, "physically and mentally, to just go out and perform like he has today - it was like he never left - is just incredible. I don't think there's many athletes, in any sport, that could do that."

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Sheehan was already high atop many pundits' and fans' British & Irish Lions XV picks for starting hooker. His comeback against England just locked him in. If he can stay fit, Sheehan will be in the No.2 Lions jersey for the First Test against Australia, on July 19.

Former Ireland and Lions winger Tommy Bowe agreed with that sentiment as he reviewed the match, on Rugby Union Weekly. He also put forward a surprise pick to join the Leinster man.

READ ALSO: Caelan Doris Couldn't Contain Reaction To Exuberant Rendition Of Ireland's Call

Dan Sheehan

Dan Sheehan of Ireland celebrates with teammates James Lowe and Josh van der Flier, right, after scoring their side's fourth try during the win over England. (Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile)

Dan Sheehan and Ireland teammate tipped for Lions

Former England and Lions scrumhalf agreed with Tommy Bowe when he talked Dan Sheehan up for the summer tour, Down Under. It would be interesting if Bowe's other prediction were to come true.

"There was unbelievable experience on the Ireland bench," said Bowe, "but the two game-breakers were Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan. Unbelievable ball-carriers and players that probably could have, or should have, started. They played off each other so well.

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I think those two lads that came off the bench and could be - again, should be - going on the Lions tour are Jack Conan, who started all three of the (2021 Lions) Tests at No.8, and Dan Sheehan, who I personally think is one of the best hookers in the world."

Interestingly, the BBC carried a Six Nations preview, ahead of the game, that tipped Sam Prendergast and Ryan Baird as outside shouts for the 2025 Lions squad. Sheehan did not tour South Africa with the Lions in 2021.

Conan was the famous '37th man' and ended up starting all three Test matches against the Springboks. With the likes of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl, Tom Curry, Rory Darge and even Courtney Lawes all in contention, bringing the 32-year-old Conan on another Lions tour would turn a few heads, particularly as he had not played a Test match in 11 months.

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Conan started only seven of his 24 appearances, for province and country, last season and missed out on the Autumn Nations Series. He is in good form at Leinster and will be pushing for a start against Scotland, at Murrayfield.

"I'd carry water if it meant it would make a difference to this team," he said, following Ireland's win. "I haven't played the last two (international) campaigns, through injury and through the birth of my daughter. I was just unbelievably delighted to be back out there. It is an incredible privilege to play for your country and play for this group of people, in this environment.

"It is so incredibly special, so if I got one minute or 80 minutes, if I could have any impact I'd be delighted... everyone across the board, I don't care how many minutes, made that impact."

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SEE ALSO: Maro Itoje Picked Up On Ref Mic After Decision That Badly Backfired

SEE ALSO: Ireland vs. England: All The Biggest Moments, Talking Points And Player Ratings

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