The Ireland rugby team continued their electric start to the Six Nations with an incisive 31-7 victory over Wales on Saturday.
After opening the championship with two clinical wins against France in Marseille and Italy in Dublin, Ireland returned to home soil to face a youthful Wales side who had lost their first two games.
The Welsh defence put up a spirited performance in the first half but it simply could not cope with the Irish attack, with two tries on the board by the break.
Wales continued to show impressive resilience early in the second period, especially when Tadhg Beirne was sent to the bin, but Ireland ultimately pushed on to secure a try bonus point and a 31-7 victory.
Dan Sheehan got the first of Ireland's tries in trademark fashion from a rolling maul - and his continued try-scoring form has Brian O'Driscoll fearing for his status as the most potent try scorer in Irish rugby history.
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Brian O'Driscoll fears for his Ireland try record after Dan Sheehan's recent exploits
O'Driscoll currently holds the record among Ireland players for the most tries in test rugby with 46, ahead of the recently retired Keith Earls on 36 and Tommy Bowe on 30.
Dan Sheehan's try against Wales on Saturday was his ninth in 24 appearances in an Ireland jersey.
24 February 2024; Joe McCarthy of Ireland celebrates after teammate Dan Sheehan, not pictured, scored their side's first try in the 21st minute, during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and Wales at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
It was also his fourth of this Six Nations championship, placing him as the top try scorer thus far - and putting him halfway to the all-time record for most tries in a championship (currently held by Cyril Lowe with eight in the 1914 Five Nations).
With the Ireland hooker still only 25, he has plenty of time ahead of him to add to that tally - and Brian O'Driscoll fears that Sheehan may ultimately conquer his Irish record.
Appearing on ITV pre-game on Saturday, O'Driscoll assessed Sheehan's impressive performances in an Irish shirt - and joked that his biggest concern was that the Leinster hooker would surpass his tally:
My try-scoring record's in serious trouble with this guy! At the back of a maul, he just walks it over.
The agility, the footwork at the line, the speed, the acceleration, the cleverness...he is becoming a really, really all-round hooker. He's still so, so young.
You think of the best hookers in the world at the minute, you think of Malcolm Marx and you think of Dan Sheehan.
It's a very exciting time to have a player like him as a pivotal player for you. I'll even welcome more tries from Dan Sheehan!
We doubt we'd find too many Ireland rugby fans who disagree with O'Driscoll's hope for more tries from Sheehan.
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