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Sheridan in for another massive showdown
Chris Jones24.02.09
Andrew Sheridan faces another Lions trial when England attempt to wreck Ireland's Grand-Slam hopes.
Sheridan is arguably the strongest prop in world rugby and, although England lost their last match 23-15 to Wales, the Sale giant edged his personal battle with Lions rival Gethin Jenkins.
In Dublin, Sheridan goes head-to-head with John Hayes, who, at 19st 9lbs, is one of the few props to outweigh the England star. Hayes, 35, will break the record for Ireland appearances when he wins his 92nd cap while Sheridan (right) will play his 30th match of an inconsistent international career.
Although Hayes is more experienced, he could be given a hard time by Sheridan, if the 29-year-old is in the mood.
England and Lions scrum coach Graham Rowntree fired up Sheridan for the Wales match and needs to do the same again.
Rowntree said: "Andrew's work rate has been colossal in the last few weeks - and I don't use that word lightly. He will be judged, because of the size of guy he is, on what happens in the scrum and that is developing nicely. Another increase in the level of his performance this weekend and we will all be happy."
Reader views (15)
I spent many a match holding him up, telling him which side to pack down, and on a couple of occasions... Which way to face. Nice lad, his mum still dresses him I've heard.
- Ronnie, Bristol
Chris mate did you watch another game on Saturday? I recall Jenkins making 18 tackles. Winning a ball against the head of this overhyped lump and stealing a lineout.
- Gareth Davies, London
Sheridan shaded jenkins?, absolutely correct.
the earth is made of marshmallow? absolutely correct.
- Spanex, Sagra spain
"The Sale giant edged his personal battle with Lions rival Gethin Jenkins". Whilst this is a subjective opinion, I'm afraid even the most fervent England supporter would concede that Jenkins was outstanding last Saturday (should have been given MoM), while Sheridan was largely anonymous (again).
Can someone please explain why Sheridan is continuously 'talked-up' in the media, when true rugby supporters (from any nation) know that his scrummaging technique is repeatedly found wanting.
- Amanintheknow, Windsor, England
Blimey Chris, you've been in England too long. Gethin Jenkins made 16 tackles in that game (by comparison the much celebrated Joe Worsley made 8). The idea that Sheridan was better than him is...one wants to use a decidedly politically incorrect term.
- Crongod, Cronland
"the Sale giant edged his personal battle with Lions rival Gethin Jenkins" - now that's an offensive line.
- Michael Clemens, Toronto, Canada
'Sheridan is arguably the strongest prop in world rugby'
....I'm sorry but he is one of the most overated and tactically inept by any standards.
He got found out badly against Wales.
- Tredelerch, Cardiff,Wales
the Sale giant edged his personal battle with Lions rival Gethin Jenkins" - gusee you did not see the game as Sheridan failed, yet again, to live up to the over-generous billing given to him by the English press
- David Jenkins, crediton, devon
Please let's analyse the facts Mr Jones. Sheridan is very big. Jenkins is a very good rugby player. Sheridan wasn't very effective against Wales - a game where the Welsh tight five were far superior to Englands. Jenkins was man of the match HTH by far with more tackles than the over hyped Worsley.
- Scrum Expert, UK
How perceptive of you to notice the mighty Sheriden edging his personal battle against Gethin Jenkins.
Sherrys work rate and tackle stats dwarfed the over rated, diminutive Welshmans contribution to the game, and thats without accounting for his herculean scrummaging effort or his personal gravitational force.
- Rupert Cholmondely, Little-Knocking-under-Titwood
Jenkins played one of his finest ever games in a Wales shirt last weekend. To say Sheridan 'edged' him is ignorance of a world class magnitude. C'mon Jonesy play the game and take those rose-tinted glasses off.
- Dai O'Rhea, Guildford, Surrey
This must be a joke? Gethin Jenkins is close to being the best prop in the world at the moment. Sheridan is completely overrated. It’s not all about being strong; technique has something to do with it as well.
- Ted, Cheltenham
So colossal is Andrew Sheridan's strength that, like Atlas, he bears the weight of all England's expectations on his shoulders.
Shame then that in real life he's a mediocre prop in a mediocre team destined to finish in the bottom half of the six nations.
- Eddie_Thebeagle, blyth, england
The real battle will be outside the scrum, in the line out and especially in the backs. Ireland will win both
- Keith Price, Luton, England
"the Sale giant edged his personal battle with Lions rival Gethin Jenkins" - no, he didn't. Not least because they were on the opposite side of the scrum from each other. Both played loose-head.
He should get the better of Hayes though. He's a big over-rated numpty, who epitomises the old tale about Irish Rugby - "it takes you 5 years to get into the team and 15 to get out".
He was seen off easily by the All Blacks on the last Lions Tour to New Zealand.
- Ivy Eileen, Weybridge, Surrey
