'Best way to connect with the fans is to give them a win'

BRITISH and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan says that winning the upcoming Test series against Australia is all that matters in terms of this squad cementing their legacy.

- BEN JAMES Reporter

The tourists head into the week of the first Test having won all their matches Down Under in comfortable style. However, it’s debatable whether they've won hearts and minds while over here.

Some sections of the Australian media have been critical of the Lions’ approach to the tour - with an apparent lack of engagement with locals criticised. For their part, the Lions are insistent that they have done their fair share of community engagement throughout the tour.

Ultimately though, for the players, there is just one thing on their minds.

“A win,” said Irish hooker Sheehan. “It would be a good story and a good legacy to have a winning series.

“We haven't delved too much into the wider picture. We did at the start when we were trying to frame the mindset, but this week has been all about Saturday, and how our prep goes into winning this game on Saturday, and we're going to throw everything at that.

“There's going to be no holding anything back, or waiting for the next two Tests. It’s all about Saturday.

“I think we're in a good spot. Lads are hungry, and we're expecting the Wallabies to be hungry. I think it'll be a good Test and fireworks on Saturday.

“There’s a lot that goes into winning, you can’t just say you want to win. That's what we've been saying the last few weeks, making sure the bonds off the field click and we've seen it week on week, getting more clinical and getting used to the different people, the different personnel and sort of adapting to a new game plan for most of us.