Dan Sheehan says getting back to Vodacom URC business was the best way of getting over the “massive disappointment” of Ireland’s World Cup exit.
The 21-cap hooker returned to action for Leinster in Sunday’s clash with Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade and marked the occasion by captaining the province for the first time, leading them to a 33-10 victory.
It was just under a month since he had shared in the pain of Ireland bowing out of the World Cup with a narrow quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.
“It was difficult, a massive disappointment and especially with the lads leaving, that was their last game,” he said, reflecting on the 28-24 loss in Paris.
“That’s hard to deal with and then all of a sudden you are broken up. You’ve spent the last five months with these lads and then you are leaving camp and you are on to the next thing.
“That was difficult, but the best thing for me was getting back into the Leinster squad and just focusing on that. It was a case of getting back on the bike, as they say,
“I enjoyed the few weeks we had off. I tried to do very little with rugby, but then by the third week I was ready to come back in. I was texting Leo (Cullen) and I was just sitting at home waiting to come back in.
“It’s good to be back with the lads you haven’t seen in a long time.”
As for marking his return by debuting as skipper, Sheehan said: “It’s probably something as a kid – or even a few years – I never thought I would be capable of doing.
“But my confidence has grown over the last few years and it’s about time I step up and take more of a leadership role within the squad, so I’m delighted.
“You have different sorts of things going through your head. You spend the week making sure everyone else is ready rather than just yourself, but I really enjoyed the challenge of it and it’s something I’m glad I have done now.
“We have a lot of experience in the camp, so whatever team we put out there’s people with massive number of caps. We talk about everyone having a role in the leadership, so it’s easy for me to be able to come in and lead these lads.”
Sheehan set things in motion against Dragons RFC by crossing off a lineout drive, with the visitors scoring five tries in all to shoot up to second in the Vodacom URC table.
“I was nervous coming in, to make sure I showed my ability in the Leinster team because the lads have been doing a good job without me. I needed to make sure I showed up for them,” he said.
“It was good to get back out there and I am excited to kick on for the rest of the season.”
Giving his thoughts on the 25-year-old Sheehan, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: “He’s a great story Dan.
“He wouldn’t have been a stand-out necessarily when he was coming through from school in Kildare. Then he went to Trinity College, did a season with Lansdowne, made his way through the Academy and has gone from strength to strength.
“He’s physically very imposing and nothing really fazes him. He’s been excellent.
“Him and Ronan Kelleher have had a real good duel over the last couple of seasons and I think that competition is really positive for players, with a couple of young guys pushing behind as well.”
On handing Sheehan the captaincy for the first time, Cullen said: “I am a big believer in shared leadership and it’s great to have different voices in the group.
“Rugby is the ultimate team game and the more leaders you have across the team the better.”
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