Dan Sheehan a 'freak' who Ireland and Leinster are 'lucky to have'

Ireland and Leinster legend Brian O’Driscoll has raved about the class of Dan Sheehan, who continues to be a standout for both province and country.

The hooker has been a key part of the Leinster and Ireland squads after enjoying a breakthrough campaign in 2021/22.

Sheehan has also become one of the best hookers in the world but O’Driscoll believes that he is still getting “better and better.”

He was named man of the match for his display in the 43-13 victory over Sale Sharks in the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final.

Sheehan’s stunning assist

The 27-year-old actually finished that game in the back-row and set up a try for Jamie Osborne with a remarkable break from inside his own 22.

“He looks like a real standout athlete, just in general. More so playing for Leinster because I think he’s so much better than many club players, but even internationally he’s still a real standout performer,” O’Driscoll told Off The Ball.

“Maybe he isn’t able to have that physical abrasiveness to the same extent internationally, and no one can because it’s just tighter and the standards are that much higher.”

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After shifting into the back-row last weekend, O’Driscoll wouldn’t be surprised if Sheehan was able to cover other positions, including behind the scrum.

“I was trying to work out what position couldn’t he play. Obviously, playing in the second-row would be a challenge but you could be sure of it he could do a job for you in some shape or form on either side of hooker, at loosehead or tighthead,” he said.

“His skills are very good but scrum-half might be a push, but he could absolutely do a very decent job for you in the centre and, on the wing, I wouldn’t put it against him.

“He is such a talented footballer and that’s what he is, he’s a footballer, and the seamless nature of him going into the back-row and just the try that he set up for Osborne at the very end.

“That’s a hooker that’s played 70-odd minutes in the front-row with multiple scrums, which is exhausting. He’s moved to the back-row and he’s the one with the legs at the end of the game. He’s a remarkable athlete and we’re very lucky to have him, and he’s a joy to watch.

“Even the try he scored against Sale, the smartness and the square nature of that line, coming back against that inside shoulder. He just spotted that Sale had got their spacings wrong and he runs at the hole, runs at that space and knows if someone doesn’t get a solid shoulder on him, he has enough to be able to carry the ball for two or three yards post-contact.”

Hooker depth

Sheehan may well be the main man at hooker in Ireland, but O’Driscoll believes that Leinster and the national team are well served generally in that position.

“He is going from strength to strength and we’re very lucky to have Ronan Kelleher as such a great back-up as well. To have that strength in depth is a real plus and even Gus McCarthy, who’s an international. He’s no slouch but he’s certainly not in either of their leagues,” he added.

“He’s one of those freak athletes that I bet you he’s good at table tennis, he’s good at snooker and he’s good at darts – he’s one of those.”

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