Sheehan challenges Lions to match hosts’ passion

British and Irish Lions v Western Force

In Saturday’s tour opener in Australia, Dan Sheehan has challenged his British and Irish Lions team-mates to match the enthusiasm of the Western Force underdogs.

Sione Tuipulotu and Tadhg Beirne, both of whom were starting for Argentina on Friday, will lead the Lions team.

The 26-year-old Irish hooker said, “I’m sure the Force will be 150% of what they normally are.”

They will be flying into it, according to the statement, “And that extra hunger can lead to some potent things.”

They probably first entered that Western Force change room, where they would have been looking for this game. They will be greatly affected by it.

“But I don’t want them to believe that we’ll be hungrier than we are.” We must show our own mindset back.

Western Force’s head coach, Simon Cron, said a large portion of their preparation had involved presenting the players with the magnitude of the opportunity. Western Force was the lowest-ranked Australian side in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific.

For many of these guys, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Cron said.

We sat down as a group and discussed when we last sat down and when we were twelve years old [when the Lions lasttoured Australia].

Former Exeter scrum-half Nic White is included in the Western Force’s starting line-up, and veteran Kurtley Beale, who had previously been kept back with the Wallabies, has been replaced at full-back.

Sheehan, who for the first time faced Wales at this year’s Six Nations, believes the Lions’ dressing room will make his job easier rather than intimidating.

You look around the room and there are so many people who are more than capable of taking the captaincy of this team, he said, which helps a little bit lessen the nerves.

I just need to be myself, not make it too difficult.

I think I have a good understanding of who I am and what makes me tick, despite the fact that I am quite a quiet person. I kind of allowed these things to occur indistinctly. I realize that sounds like I’m about to sit back, but I just don’t really overthink it.

Following Saturday’s game against the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, the Lions’ schedule expands.