Ireland return delights in-form Sheahan

FRANKIE SHEAHAN’S season might have been slow to gather momentum, but the Munster hooker is hitting a rich vein of form that has earned the 30-year-old a place on the Ireland squad that tours Argentina this month.

The Cork man suffered a serious neck injury against Sale Sharks in October 2005 that kept the 27-times capped Ireland hooker sidelined for the remainder of Munster’s Heineken Cup winning season.

Sheahan, who last lined out for Ireland against Japan in June 2005, is thrilled to be amongst the 30-man squad that will play two tests against the Pumas on May 26 and June 2.

He made his comeback against Leicester Tigers in a pre-season friendly last August and played in all of Munster’s Heineken Cup pool matches but he was omitted from Eddie O’Sullivan’s Six Nation squads. It’s why he’s relishing the opportunity of a recall that will hopefully lead to a place on O’Sullivan’s World Cup squad.

“I was really disappointed I didn’t get selected for the Six Nations. I was told it was a very close call and I spoke to Niall O’Donovan and he gave me a few things to work on in my game.

“I’ve worked quite hard on them since. I’m really enjoying the last few games and really enjoying the end of the season. I’m training hard and this is a great opportunity for me to go out and stake a claim for the World Cup.”

Sheahan, who recently became a father with the birth of a baby boy (Frank junior), is currently playing his best rugby of the season as demonstrated in recent Magners League clashes against Llanelli Scarlets and Newport Gwent Dragons.

He added: “When I came back I thought I played quite well during the season, but since the ground has hardened up, I think it has suited me a bit more. I’ve worked a lot on my game with regard to my mobility around the field. As a result I’m really enjoying my rugby at the moment.”

Sheahan has, in the past, spoken of all the lonely days in rehab during his nine month absence from competitive rugby. He didn’t try to rush back, but when he did make it back on the paddock again, he says he didn’t find it too difficult to adjust to the levels required at Magners League and Heineken Cup levels.

“I found that I got straight back into it. Maybe I wasn’t doing contact last year, but I was doing everything else for most of the season. I trained really hard for the nine months, and that time gave me a good opportunity to work on certain areas of my game, which would’ve been my speed, skill work and strength. I lifted heavier weights than I ever lifted when I was out injured last year, which is ironic. I had a fantastic base then when I finally did come back.

“Obviously you need to get back into match mode. There are various things in getting the timing right with regard to the tackling, timing your runs, taking balls on and little things like that. It all came back fairly quickly then.”

Sheahan was part of the Ireland squad that toured the Americas in 2000. On the South American leg of the tour, the tourists lost the test match to the Pumas and, though Sheahan did not see any action that day, he described it as a hostile environment.

“I sat on the bench in 2000. Buenos Aires is an extremely intimidating atmosphere. On the same day they beat us fairly well. We didn’t really perform. A lot of it had to do with intimidation — the crowd are nearly out on the pitch, and it’s as tough a place as you’ll have to go and get a result.

“Saying that, there’s a good mix in the squad; a mixture of youth and age and experience. I think Eddie is looking at experimenting, looking at different combinations, but there is no reason why we cannot go out and look at getting a couple of victories.”

Sheahan praised Ulster Bank for organising summer camps and is hopeful that the next the next generation of Irish stars will be a product of them.

“Ulster Bank has done a great job by putting time and money into this because the future Brian O’Driscolls and Paul O’Connells need to come from somewhere and these are places that you’ll find them.”

Ulster Bank Summer Scrummage 2007 Rugby camps run by IRFU Coaches are taking place throughout Munster from July 2nd to August 24th for boys and girls aged between 6 and 13, and Sheahan points out certain areas the youngsters should concentrate on during the course of these camps.

“I think enjoyment would be the big thing, and not to get too serious too young. They should enjoy it while learning as well. It is a good opportunity to work on the skills. In places like France and New Zealand, kids are doing both as well — they’re learning and they’re enjoying it as well.

“One area of the game I would like to see boys and girls develop is — and it might get a bit quite technical for a young person — but it’s offloading in a tackle situation. If you start doing that as opposed to going in constantly with the ball when you’re young and then trying to revert back to something else, it’s a lot more difficult. But if you start with good habits, it’ll make things a lot easier.”

The Ulster Bank Summer Scrummage Camps are for boys and girls aged 6-13. They are run by qualified IRFU staff and take place throughout the country between July 2nd and August 24th. For more info, logon to: www.irishrugby.ie