‘Too complacent’ – Dan Sheehan reveals where Leinster have fallen short in their silverware drought
Dan-Sheehan-scores-a-try-for-Leinster-against-La-Rochelle-in-the-Champions-Cup
Ireland and Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan claims that the province is doing everything they can to stay focused after admitting they have been guilty of complacency in the past.
Leinster’s last trophy was the final PRO14 season in the 2020/21 campaign and they have since either failed to reach the United Rugby Championship final or fallen short in the Champions Cup final for the last two years to La Rochelle.
Single focus
Sheehan’s side finally got past their La Rochelle hoodoo in this season’s quarter-finals and the star hooker insists Leinster are focused on the task at hand.
“That was by no means our final but it was a must-win obviously to get to the next stage,” Sheehan said.
“We have been good this year at making sure we are not getting ahead of ourselves. We have been in the past where we have come up short, probably looking too far ahead maybe or getting a bit too complacent in either URC or Champions Cup.
“It was nice to have the two weeks here to really hone in on Northampton, who we haven’t seen in a couple of years. We are not as familiar with them as the likes of La Rochelle who come up three/four years on the trot, so it was nice to get a good week’s prep last week to just focus on Northampton.”
In and out
Sheehan feels that he is good at switching his mind off when out of a rugby environment as well as dialling in when required.
“No, I’m not obsessed. I feel like I’m quite good about coming in and out of rugby,” he said.
“When I’m off, I’m off. It doesn’t rattle through my mind at night or when I’m at home, which I think, for me, is really important.
“I think some lads maybe in the past have been up here the whole time and then it’s impossible to keep your energy levels of rugby the whole way through the week up in the top range, and then having to go perform on a Saturday when you’re drained from the week. We talk about when we’re on, we’re on, and then take your time off, enjoy the week.
“There’s 40 lads in the dressing room, have the craic, enjoy being part of the club in the dressing room, and when we’re on, we’ll put our heads to the wall and we really go for it, but make sure you’re enjoying the time.”
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All in
The Test star dismissed any notion that Ireland were looking fatigued near the back end of the Six Nations and insists Leinster are all in to win the Champions Cup.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Completely wrong read,” he insisted.
“It’s natural that this part of the season bodies aren’t 100%. You’ve got to front up a little bit, you’ve got to play with niggles or whatever, but I think as a professional player in the Leinster and Irish squad, this is the most exciting part of the season. You have to bring everything, more energy
“We’ve come up short how many times the last couple of years and we know what it means to this club, this competition.
“So I think we’re in a really good place, I think the energy levels are good. I think that was a big part of us not travelling to South Africa, to make sure the energy levels were there.
“I think everyone’s excited to get going now for the last few weeks of the season.”
Tough opponents
Leinster face Premiership leaders Northampton Saints this weekend in the semi-final and Sheehan is well aware of the threat at hand.
“We’ve seen they can attack from anywhere,” he added. “If you watch the Munster game, scoring that set-piece try where they score from their own 22, [they are] good at transition when you kick them the ball.
“[George] Furbank, their wingers, [Tommy] Freeman, really good individual players, you hear them in the media saying they are very confident about their one-on-ones.
“One of the things we have been focusing on is just how well we can execute our game-plan and how quickly we can transition between attack and defence and defence and attack. I think that will be massive.”