Leinster's Dan Sheehan: 'There's a Certain Hatred Towards Us'
When Leinster can secure the services of an All Black, Rieko Ioane, to bolster their ranks, it's easy to see why other teams might feel a twinge of envy. But it's not just envy that can turn to enmity; it's the well-funded club's eye-catching purchases that can polarize opinions. A team of Irish international players, including a double South African World Cup winner, RG Snyman, and Ioane, who played for New Zealand at 19 and may face Harlequins in the Champions Cup, can indeed stir strong emotions.
However, Dan Sheehan, the unflappable hooker, isn't fazed by external sentiments. He dismisses the notion of malice or the team being solely measured by Champions Cup wins. Instead, he embraces a unique form of motivation.
"I don't care what people think or the outside noise," Sheehan says. "If everyone loved us, it would be kind of weird. There's a certain hatred towards us."
This recognition of a common but non-specific alienation serves as a powerful motivator for the team, especially after Leinster's uneven start in the United Rugby Championship. Sheehan's personal journey has also been a rollercoaster, transitioning from Leinster to the British and Irish Lions for the summer, then to Ireland for the autumn, and back to Leinster.
"It's a refreshing feeling, a kind of reset, and it gives us a more vital kind of energy for the weeks ahead," he explains.
Sheehan relishes the challenge of big weeks, with the team backs against the wall, needing to prove a point. He's joined by 22 other players, all eager to make their mark and secure a spot in the season's lineup.
"People are excited just to rip in," he says. "Everything in the past has happened. It's a new season, a new group. Let's just rip."
Sheehan refutes the idea that Leinster's desperation to win their first Champions Cup since 2018 might hinder their competitive edge. Instead, he highlights the team's positive achievements and the motivation that comes from past disappointments.
"We've got another chance this year with the new group, and we've just got to be excited about it," he says. "We need to go and attack it. I wouldn't say it weighs on us. I don't go into this week thinking, 'oh God, I hope it goes well.' I'll just say, 'rip into Harlequins, see what happens.'"
Despite losing three consecutive finals to La Rochelle, twice in 2022 and 2023, and Toulouse in 2024, Sheehan remains focused on the team's strengths and the positions they've put themselves in.
"We've achieved so many positive things over the last few years in the European Cup," he says. "But it's all off the back of disappointing seasons because we haven't won it. It just adds fuel to the fire, more motivation."
Sheehan acknowledges the challenges posed by Harlequins, who are currently eighth in the 10-team Premiership with two wins from six games. However, he emphasizes the importance of focusing on their own performance.
"We're already talking about our discipline," he says. "It wasn't good enough against Dragons. We need to control that, especially with the way the game is being reffed now, and refs being real hot at offside."
Sheehan's approach to external pressures is straightforward: they're just outside noise. Whether it's the World Cup draw, the pressure to win the Champions Cup, or the animosity towards Leinster, he encourages his team to forget about them before facing Harlequins in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
"I'm looking forward to just getting a bit of rugby under the belt and getting stuck into things," he says. "New competition, new energy around the group. Get on with it."
