KELL OF A DUEL
Sheehan enjoying battle with Ronan for Blues’ No.2 shirt
Leinster By PAUL O’HEHIR DAN SHEEHAN insists his battle with Ronan Kelleher is bringing the best out of both men.
The Leinster hookers are locked in a ferocious fight for starts and Kelleher (right) gets the nod for today’s Champions Cup clash against Montpellier with Sheehan ready to come off the bench.
But having just joined his team-mate in the Ireland ranks following his debut against Japan in November, Sheehan is confident the Kelleher conundrum won’t be a hindrance.
He feels he can achieve his career objectives at Leinster
v Montpellier 1pm
and sees no point being anywhere else.
“I’ve had decent thoughts about this and it’s worked perfectly up until now,” said Sheehan who, like Kelleher, is 23. “I’ve been able to get to where I want to, doing the exact same thing.
“If you look at Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, the two of them making the Lions squad as two tightheads, it just shows you that you can do it.
“There is game-time to be got. You might miss out on a few starts if you’re not the No 1 but with a front row position you’re still getting enough game time I think. And I think the two of us are able to push each other a lot further than we’d get if we didn’t have pressure from each other. “It would be too comfortable if you’re going to look for starts at another club you can get into a very comfortable sort of position where you’re happy where you’re at. “But going into Leinster every week you have to be on top of your game to even get into the squad. “Also playing at the level Leinster are at the moment, I think it’s where I need to be and why I’ve got to where I have.” Today’s game marks Leinster’s return to action for the first time in a month after
Covid cases at various clubs wreaked havoc on the United Rugby Championship.
They have not tasted action since the Champions Cup win over Bath at the Aviva Stadium on December 11.
“We had a game plan for every single weekend,” said Sheehan. “There’s been a team named and each week it’s been dramatically different.
“But we’re lucky now that we basically have everyone back.” LEINSTER: H Keenan; J Larmour, G Ringrose, C Frawley, J O’brien; R Byrne, J Gibson-park; A Porter, R Kelleher, T Furlong, R Molony, J Ryan (c), C Doris, J van der Flier, J Conan. MONTPELLIER: A Bevia; P Lucas, T Darmon, K Martin, J Vici; L Foursans, G Aprasidze; M Nariashvili, G Guirado capt, H Thomas, T Duguid, M Capelli, M Dakuwaqa, F Verhaeghe, M Tauleigne.