Belief is arguably the most powerful potion in sport and Dan Sheehan insists it has fuelled The British & Irish Lions’ famous series victory against Australia.
The Lions clinched a series win in the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Men’s Tour to Australia 2025 with a last-gasp victory in the second Test on Saturday.
The Lions trailed Australia 23-5 in front of 90,000 at the MCG but bounced back through tries from Tom Curry, Huw Jones and Tadhg Beirne, adding to Sheehan’s 15th-minute try, to set up a frantic finale.
Australia looked set to hold out but Hugo Keenan slalomed his way through to win the game 29-26 in the last minute, putting the tourists into an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
They now head to Sydney for the final Test hoping for a 3-0 win and hooker Sheehan admits this summer has been the greatest achievement of his career – powered by an unwavering belief that pulses through the squad that they can come back from any scenario and win.
“It’s definitely something that will be etched in my memory for a long time and I think for everyone that was there it will be in theirs as well,” he told Sky Sports.
“It was not a perfect performance from us but it probably added to the theatrics of the whole occasion and we’ve definitely celebrated it over the last two days.
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“Australia did a great job at getting their big ball carriers over the gain-line and we were struggling to deal with them in the first half. It probably took a stern talking to at half-time to make sure that we were properly committed to the plan.
“We sort of got it right on the pitch in that last 10 minutes of the first half but it was important we came out for that second half with full belief that we could win.
“Everyone did believe and we had the ability in the room for sure to make sure we had a good comeback and I thought the lads coming off the bench did a massive job for us.
“It all turned out right in the end but it’s probably too close for comfort.
“The joy it gave everyone there and everyone back home, it’s definitely something I’ll always hold on to. You have to cherish those moments and those few hours with the lads straight after a game.
“It’s something special, something you’ve grown up wanting to be a part of and on that occasion and that sort of stage, to do it in the MCG…a special, special day.”
The Lions have celebrated well since the second Test but are back in training ahead of the final match at Accor Stadium.
If Australia make the same leap in performance as they did between the first and second Tests, we will again be in for an all-time classic.
The Wallabies were exceptional in the first half, powered up front by the recalled Will Skelton from injury, as they crossed the gainline more frequently and benefited from quick ball.
At 23-5, it appeared the third Test would become a series decided until the Lions responded in kind.
And, while the series might be won, Sheehan is determined they don’t take a step back and urged them to improve on their first-half performance in Melbourne.
“We’ve had a few meetings where we need to be open and honest that it wasn’t good enough in the first half,” he said.
“It has to be an honest review and we have to get over the excitement of what has just gone on there.
“The lads have done a good job at owning up to that and making sure we put plans in place to make that right now to, as Henry Pollock said, win 3-0.
“I know he got a bit of heat for that but it was obviously the goal of the whole Tour to make sure we did come away with a 3-0 win.
“The lads have turned the page well and I think we’re all looking forward to another big game in Sydney and you can already see the excitement around the city with the fans rolling in.
“There’s a big Irish and British & Irish contingent out here already so I think the lads are going to be up for it and excited for the weekend.”