Dan Sheehan: ‘Stand still and you’ll be swallowed up’

The Ireland men’s national team has won 44, drawn one and lost just five of its last 50 games at the Aviva. The last 17 have all been victories.

NO STANDING STILL: Dan Sheehan stands for a portrait during an Ireland rugby media conference at the Sport Ireland Campus Conference Centre in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

It’s been rare enough lately that anyone has had the chance to criticise Ireland. Even the latest, familiar World Cup quarter-final exit triggered more of a lament than the heavy metal rage of past expeditions.

If the Stade de France felt like a home from home for a time there then it is the performances in Dublin that have been the bedrock for so much of their success. The men’s national team has won 44, drawn one and lost just five of its last 50 games at the Aviva.