Iovoer top level’ states determined Dan
ULSTER V LEINSTER
THESE are the weeks Dan Sheehan really loves — as Leinster go to Belfast in the hope of avoiding a third defeat to Ulster in a row.
“It’s great to test yourself in pressure environments,” said Sheehan. “The job’s no fun when there’s no pressure on you.
“At the end of the season, it’s all about these pressure environments — when you have to perform when asked. On Friday, we’ll be asked to perform and it will be interesting to see if we can do it.”
And Sheehan is loving his rugby life at the moment.
He scored four tries against Zebre last Friday — the first time he has done so at any level.
“No, I think three is the most,” he smiled. “I scored one pick-and-go try, the rest were the lads’ tries (from mauling) and I think it’s easy to sit here and say, ‘Oh, it was great to score four tries’, but it was the pack that scored three tries, which I probably stole off Josh (van der Flier).”
Incredible
He is also coming off an incredible summer when, in the absence of Ronan Kelleher (inset), the 24-year-old started all three Tests in Ireland’s tour series win over New Zealand.
“Down there, it was obviously a huge thing,” Sheehan angainsitBsenetatont recalled. “We went to New Zealand with full confidence that we could do the job. Obviously, the achievement was great, but I don’t think anyone in the room was surprised.
“But the support and the hype coming back here, seeing my parents, my parents’ friends, all these people, and the shock — it’s still going on now. Everyone is talking about it.
“It’s crazy and for the likes of Johnny (Sexton) and Pete (O’Mahony), who went to New Zealand 10 years ago when we got pumped, for those lads (it was really special).
Know
“For me, to do it first time, maybe it didn’t set in as the big achievement it was, but I know fully well now that it was a pretty good achievement.”
Sheehan played in Leinster’s last win at the Kingspan Stadium, during the season before last, and thus missed Ulster’s two victories over his province last term.
“Ulster have been improving season on season the last few years, and they’ve become a really good team, as shown last year, where they did us twice, so motivation is at top level,” he stated.
“I think everyone will be gunning to get going after having one game under the belt and will be ready Friday.
“We set a goal to make sure we’re taking every single point available, then it will just be about continuing that form throughout the season — especially toward the end, where one slip will cost you a title.”