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Dan Sheehan: What Ireland have been 'talking about' all week ahead of Wales

By PA
Captain Dan Sheehan during an Ireland Rugby media conference at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Dan Sheehan says Ireland will “knuckle down to basics” when they continue their Guinness Six Nations title quest against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

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Ireland are red-hot favourites to pile further misery on a Wales team without a Test match win since the 2023 World Cup.

It is a run of 14 successive Test losses, while Wales have also seen Warren Gatland depart as head coach, with Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt taking over on an interim basis.

Ireland, meanwhile, will clinch the Triple Crown if they topple Wales following victories over England and Scotland.

“Obviously, they have been on a losing run of late, but they are a passionate nation,” Ireland captain Sheehan said.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
4
Average Points scored
13
27
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
60%

“We only got here yesterday, and it’s everywhere. Everyone is still really behind the team, and they are a real passionate bunch of people.

“It is not in any way an easy fixture. If anything, it’s sort of knuckle down to basics and make sure we show up with the proper intent.

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“Probably their game-plan is to come and try to physically dominate.

“We’ve been talking about that all week where we need to make sure we come out with proper intent, and from the first whistle that we are lashing into them.

“We have talked a small bit about how Cardiff play, which is a lovely attacking style of rugby with great flow, but we just need to focus on what we can control.”

Sheehan is the 111th player to skipper Ireland’s men’s team, taking over from an injured Caelan Doris at the Principality Stadium.

Six Nations

P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
2
2
0
0
10
2
France
2
1
1
0
6
3
England
2
1
1
0
6
4
Scotland
2
1
1
0
5
5
Italy
2
1
1
0
4
6
Wales
2
0
2
0
1
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It is Sheehan’s first Test start since suffering a serious knee injury during last summer’s tour of South Africa following cameos in his country’s championship wins over England and Scotland.

Interim boss Simon Easterby has made seven personnel alterations to the team which began the 32-18 round-two victory at Murrayfield.

Jack Conan fills in for Doris at number eight and Jamie Osborne replaces Hugo Keenan at full-back for his Six Nations debut, while there is a maiden Test start for Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson. There are also recalls for lock Joe McCarthy, centre Garry Ringrose and wing Mack Hansen.

Reflecting on the captaincy, Sheehan added: “It is a massive honour.

“When I think of the names on that list that went before me, and the last three I have experienced – Caelan, Pete (O’Mahony) and Johnny (Sexton) – have been role models for me, and to be put on the same list is a big deal.

“But I made a point to myself to not think about it too much. I am very comfortable in the group, and I have enjoyed the week.

“My phone has sort of blown up, so sorry I haven’t got back to everybody!

“The only thing on my mind is getting a performance. We’ve gone well the last couple of weeks, but only at times.

“We have definitely had patches in games where we weren’t at our best, and there were some areas where we really need to work on to get an 80-minute performance.

“All eyes are on tomorrow, and there has been not one word talked about any other game. This is massive for us.”

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JW 2 hours ago
'France may leave top players at home but will still be serious contenders in New Zealand'

The country turned septic on Foster for losing a series to what was arguably the best Irish side in history and one that may not have been ranked number one in the world when they arrived, but were by the time they left.

Imagine how feral the nation will be if Robertson’s All Blacks lose to what is supposedly going to be a French ‘B’ team?

This author proving he has less of an understanding of rugby than the general population.


The country was septic because of how easily they got beat Paul. The country is smart enough to rate the relative level of performances, and if Razors team goes backwards like Fosters the criticism you suggest might come will be fully deserved. If France B perform as good as France A and win by the same margins then those with the criticism the team should be winning every game will also be deserved. But the inference that the public didn’t give Ireland the credit they deserved couldn’t be further from the truth imo.

France have beaten the All Blacks on the last three occasions the two sides have met, and that the former has used 38 players in the process.

France could leave 40 players at home in July and still be a serious contender

And to the vibe of this article, it provides abosolutely zero reason to believe the next 38 best French are going to be as good as these first 38. Paul got one thing right, it’s no joke that France will be leaving behind 40 players.


France have a 45 man squad for 6N (well using Wiki), the team could be made up of these leftovers from the teams not likely to get close to Toulouse and Bordeaux, given that just the third place team is doing commendably well not to be in negative for and against like the rest.

Uini Atonio ——— Prop

Giorgi Beria ——— Prop

Georges-Henri Colombe ———- Prop

Jean-Baptiste Gros ——— Prop

Dany Priso ——— Prop

Rabah Slimani———- Prop

Hugo Auradou ——— Lock

Mickaël Guillard ——— Lock

Matthias Halagahu ——— Lock

Romain Taofifénua ——— Lock

Esteban Abadie ——- Back row

Grégory Alldritt ———- Back row

Paul Boudehent ———- Back row

Oscar Jégou ——— Back row

Nolann Le Garrec ——— Scrum-half

Gaël Fickou ——— Centre

Antoine Frisch ——— Centre

Émilien Gailleton ——— Centre

Noah Nene ——— Centre

Théo Attissogbé ——— Wing

Gaël Dréan ———- Wing

Gabin Villièren —— Wing

Léo Barré ——— Fullback


One wouldn’t think Atonio is going to come (I’d be surprised if Fickou is still not rested or he and Le Garrec aren’t involved in a relegation playoff game) but a few good players there like Leo Barre, Le Garrec, Taofifénua, and that back row, but also a distinct lack of a spine with the 3 best playmakers playing in the Final at home.


What are the possibilities to fill out these missing spots? looking at Opta’s stats hub Serin and Couilloud provide good back up for Le Garrec by fact of having the highest try involvements in the Top14 (along with Michael Ruru). And Serin’s partner Herve looks the most threatening to carry on the teams style with his elusiveness?

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