The 'world-class' advice that has been the making of Dan Sheehan
Hooker Dan Sheehan always envisaged playing for Ireland but admits a whirlwind 2022 has exceeded expectations following his nomination for world breakthrough player of the year. The 24-year-old has established himself as a regular under Andy Farrell during a stellar twelve months in which he contributed significantly to tour success in New Zealand and victory over world champions South Africa.
He only made his international debut last autumn and began the calendar year behind Leinster teammate Ronan Kelleher in the pecking order and still awaiting a first Test start. A shoulder injury suffered by Kelleher in the second round Guinness Six Nations defeat to France opened the door to the number two Ireland jersey and Sheehan has not looked back.
His rapid rise was on Monday recognised with a place on World Rugby’s shortlist for the year’s best-emerging talent, alongside Ireland teammate Mack Hansen, England’s Henry Arundell and Italy back Ange Capuozzo. “The last year has gone so quickly and I have enjoyed every second of it,” said Sheehan, who is expected to win his 13th cap in Saturday’s Dublin clash with Australia.
“I have probably come along a bit further than I thought, but it has been great. I was playing AIL (All-Ireland League) week in, week out not so long ago and to be here at the top, international rugby, it’s exactly how I dreamed as a kid that this is what it would be like. It has been a great year. And I can’t wait to keep going and put my best foot forward.”
Sheehan had been a constant Ireland starter since seizing on Kelleher’s misfortune in Paris until Farrell opted to hand opportunities to a host of fringe players in last weekend’s disjointed 35-17 win over Fiji. He was a key cog in the team which toppled the All Blacks during the summer and prolonged his fine form in this month’s 19-16 success over the Springboks.
“Always as a kid, I pictured myself playing for Ireland,” he continued. “I just found a bit of confidence in myself and my ability and doubled down on my strengths. You can spend a lot of time trying to fix the things you are not so good at, but if you really focus on the things you are good at and make sure they become a world-class thing then you might get your foot in the door.
“It was about making sure I was ready to step up if needed, then Ro went down in the France game and from there on I’ve felt comfortable – I felt like I had done the work, I felt like I had the right to be there. So it wasn’t too scary. I didn’t feel out of my depth. I felt very comfortable in the squad that I had around me and the preparation that was put in.”
Sheehan also attributes his rapid progress in part to his friendly rivalry with “best mate” and fellow 24-year-old Kelleher. “Ronan’s an unbelievable player,” said Sheehan, whose Leinster debut came in October 2020. “The two of us have been able to push each other really hard.
“I’d like to say that the two of us wouldn’t be here or at the standard that we are if we didn’t have each other because it is good competition, but we are also best mates. I’m glad to have someone my age that I can bounce ideas off, who’s walking through the same door basically.”
Ireland sit atop the global rankings following eight wins from ten Tests this year. In addition to recognition for Sheehan and Hansen, Farrell was nominated for coach of the year, with captain Johnny Sexton and flanker Josh van der Flier on the main player-of-the-year shortlist.
Sexton and van der Flier were back in training on Tuesday ahead of the autumn finale against the Wallabies after missing the Fiji game through injury, as were Hugo Keenan, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jimmy O’Brien. Leinster fly-half Ross Byrne has been added to Farrell’s squad after Joey Carbery, who has returned to Munster for treatment, suffered a head injury last weekend.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
1 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
12 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
1 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
1 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
16 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
16 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
16 Go to comments