Ireland and Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan sent out a warning to the Vodacom Bulls ahead of Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final in Dublin: Don’t think you’re hungrier than us for this title.
Sheehan, who will be heading to Australia in a few days time with the British and Irish Lions, is a key man in the Irish and Leinster squad, and was underscoring the desire in Leinster’s ranks to ensure they finally get a title after four years of trying.
The disappointment from their shock loss in the Investec Champions’ Cup semifinal to Northampton Saints is - according to Sheehan - buried deep in the past and the team want to concentrate now on getting the only title they can, by beating the Bulls this weekend.
But with the Bulls having lost two URC finals in the last three seasons, Jake White’s men are heading to Dublin on a mission to upset the odds.
Sheehan, who scored two tries in the semifinal against Glasgow, dismissed concerns his side wouldn’t match the Bulls hunger in the final.
"Absolutely no way that will happen,” he smiled.
"We’ve had six weeks or however long it is to focus on the URC and we’ve been trophyless the last however many years and I think the hunger is there for sure in the group.
"There’s absolutely no way that a team will be hungrier than us. You can feel the buzz coming in this morning, people are excited, another final to look forward to.”
GLASGOW DEMOLITION SPURS LEINSTER ON
Sheehan added that the team were excited after their performance in dismantling Glasgow Warriors - the third time they have done that and the exit of the defending URC champions had given the side a boost.
"We are happy with how we dealt with Glasgow on Saturday but the first conversation was we need to up it a level. Finals are different.
"It’s an exciting, hungry Bulls team, who also have come up short the last few years like ourselves, that are coming to town so there’s a big battle ahead of us."
In the 2022 URC semifinal Leinster lost at home against the Bulls in what was a shock result back then, and then also lost last season at the same stage at Loftus Versfeld. They also lost the league game at Loftus Versfeld this season.
But those losses will fuel Leinster’s desire this week and Sheehan said the team would be reminding themselves this weekend of what it felt like when they exited the competition last season.
LESSONS LEARNT FROM PAST DEFEATS
"We’ve taken our lessons from it over the years and I’m sure we’ll refer back to it during the week if there are poignant messages we need to take from it again, to remind ourselves," he added.
"But we are focusing on the here and now, the present squad. That might be fuel for the fire, that the Bulls have got the better of us over the last couple of years for sure.
"They are a dangerous team, and we need to make sure we turn up. We didn’t play the worst against them over the last couple of years and they still got the better of us, we need to make sure we are all guns blazing."
Sheehan said one player who was raring to go is double World Cup winning Springbok RG Snyman, who was chomping at the bit to face his old teammates.
“I don't know if it's the final or playing against Bulls that's getting him really going. He's obviously been massive for us this year and we've probably relied on him heavily in a lot of games. His knowledge and his prep during the week is brilliant to see and the sort of things he's been able to add, mainly in our game week prep.
“But then also on the pitch, he brings a great side of enjoyment and relaxed physicality, which is hard to come by.”