Dan Sheehan is the best hooker in the world and there are at least three other Irish players that join him in the best XV in world rugby, according to Brian O'Driscoll.
The Irish and Leinster legend joined Off The Ball on Tuesday night to break down the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations.
Ireland were dominant for their 34-10 bonus point victory over Wales in Cardiff, while England were beaten by Scotland in Twickenham and France edged Italy in Rome.
It was an Irish performance that put the hopes of a Grand Slam firmly on the table. While Hugo Keenan was singled out for praise as the player of the match, O'Driscoll felt that Dan Sheehan deserved even greater praise.
Sheehan is the best hooker in the world
While many have suggested that two South African hookers could be considered the best in the world, O'Driscoll believes there's more than an argument to be made for Sheehan.
"For me, I think he's got to be, maybe, the best hooker in the world at the moment," O'Driscoll said. "Malcolm Marx will have something to say about that, I'm sure. And [Bongi] Mbonambi, a few South Africans might challenge that.
"But [Sheehan's] jump step that he has is un-defendable! Teams strategy of having their six in one flank and their two in the other only works when you've got real athletes like the likes of Sheehan playing a hooker in the trams.
"We used to have Sean Cronin years ago who was as fast as any back. You were totally comfortable with him being in the line with you rather than being the support player.
"Sheehan is a dream to watch in the open field."
It is not just Sheehan's dynamic footwork that O'Driscoll feels warrants his place ahead of the South African duo.
"If you watch on the quick taps, when they set them up, it looks as though he potentially could score from a quick tap himself," O'Driscoll said.
"Because of the acceleration from the quick tap and the power he has to back it up. Maybe a lot of teams are watching Leinster as well, because Leinster have had a couple of those quick tap free kicks where they've had a bit of intricacy, you've got to respect wide and tight as well."
🗣️ 'He thinks Hugo Keenan is the best fullback in the world'
🗣️ 'It's hard to argue with!'
Ex-international @AlanQuinlan1 speaks on Will Greenwood's high praise of #IrishRugby's Hugo Keenan & his importance to the current ☘️ squad#OTBAM with @GilletteUK | #EffortlessFlow pic.twitter.com/m5ELQ1onei— Off The Ball (@offtheball) February 7, 2023
The best players in the world
In the aftermath of Ireland's bonus point victory over Wales in Cardiff, former England international Will Greenwood praised Hugo Keenan as the best fullback in the world.
While O'Driscoll agreed that Keenan is in the conversation, he stopped short of naming him as the out and out best fullback right now.
However, the Irish legend did break down the Irish players that he felt were the best in their position across the world.
"I don't know necessarily what Will Greenwood says about [Hugo] Keenan," O'Driscoll said. "I think he's in the conversation now.
"I still think our number 10 [Johnny Sexton] is [the best 10 in the world]. I would say [Andrew] Porter is definitely in the conversation, for sure.
"Then, number 8, [Caelan] Doris. At the moment I would say Josh van der Flier. Josh is a really weird one because he is world player of the year.
"It feels like there's a 'come on! Josh van der Flier couldn't be world player of the year!', but yet he is still churning out these performances. I think he is definitely in the conversation even though he is not a conventional best in the world type player.
"So, I'd say four of them. And Tadhg Furlong when he's back."
Team of Us. Everyone In.
Vodafone. The main sponsor of the Irish Rugby Team`
