Jerry Flannery backs Dave Heffernan to make Ireland impact

Flannery recently joined Harlequins as lineout coach

Picture: INPHO/Connacht Rugby

Jerry Flannery went all the way from Galway to Grand Slam hero as he became Ireland’s first-choice hooker during a stellar career and now he is backing another Connacht product to do the same.

Dave Heffernan might be at the start of his Test career, but the man in whose footsteps he hopes to follow has seen enough in the 29-year-old back-row convert to be convinced he can slot seamlessly into the famous No 2 shirt previously owned by Rory Best. The 29-year-old Heffernan was forced to wait in the wings while Best went on to win 124 caps over a 14-year period.