Sheahan has spring in step to face new challenges

FRANKIE SHEAHAN appreciates the irony. Last April in Toulouse, the Munster hooker presented himself for a random drug test that would change his life - and almost wrecked his career.

Now seven months later, he returns to France with a grim determination to put the ERC debacle behind him, to get on with his life and help Munster on the first step towards Heineken Cup glory.

Today, Munster take on Bourgoin at Stade Pierre Rajon and Sheahan will be anxious to prove he has lost none of his appetite for the game, despite the manner in which he was left bruised and occasionally bewildered.

Though he has played only three competitive games since that ill-fated European semi-final last season, he believes he is ready for a new challenge.

"I really want to put all of this behind me. It's over and it's done. I can only look to the future now and I'm really enthusiastic about that."

His goals don't stop with Munster, either.

Following the retirement of Keith Wood, Eddie O'Sullivan must choose a new starting hooker for Ireland.

It comes down to a straight fight between him and Shane Byrne.

"I have always taken the attitude of concentrating on my own game. You can't make judgments on what others are doing and anyway, you don't have any control over it. Last year I thought I played my best ever rugby for Munster, and I just hope I can continue to do so this season."

His line-outs stats last season won't harm his cause Munster's return from line-outs was a 93% success rate, better even than eventual winners Toulouse (88%) in last year's competition.

"I would like to think I can take some credit for that, but it's not all down to me. Obviously, Paul O'Connell, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Alan Quinlan, and the others had a major say in it. It was a team effort, a matter of timing and understanding between numerous players, including guys like John Hayes, an expert lifter.

"Maybe a few years ago I would have let comments about my throwing get to me, but not any more. It's not something I worry about. Like everything, it's a matter of practice."

If rugby supporters always expect something special of Munster, Sheahan has some sobering advice ahead of the game with Bourgoin.

"Sometimes, people do not realise how tough these European matches are no matter what the opposition is. This match won't be on TV and fans probably don't rank Bourgoin on the same level as other French teams.

"We won't fall into that trap because we have seen enough of them on video to recognise they are a very tough side.

"These matches are probably the toughest of all, because there won't be a huge travelling support there and maybe because people expect us to win. But I have no doubt that this will be an absolute dog-fight and if we can come away with just a one-point win it will be a fantastic result for us."

Munster's full strength squad have had limited opportunities to work together but if things go wrong today, Sheahan won't offer any excuses. "Sure, we haven't had much time together with Munster, but the other side of that is that we have been training regularly with Ireland.

"All the forwards with the exception of Jim Williams were in Australia and we had the benefit of working there will Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara as well. As a team, there might be a bit of rustiness but the positive view to take is that we're all happy to be back in camp and that could equally work in our favour. There is huge enthusiasm and we're all very motivated."

Last week, Sheahan scored two tries as Munster dismissed the Cardiff challenge. When Munster use the rolling maul, Sheahan is generally nominated as the ball carrier and is, therefore, the most likely recipient of a score should the line be breached. It's a carbon copy of the way England rumble forward with Neil Back touching down.

"I'm just the guy who happens to come up with the ball," he says. One such moment might be enough today.