Dan Sheehan savours timely return for role in Ireland's epic win over Springboks

Injury meant Dan Sheehan had to wait in the wings at the start of Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign but the hooker struck a decidely content figure after returning to feature in the enthralling pool victory over reigning world champions South Africa.

Andy Farrell's Irish side came out on top by a 13-8 margin in a titanic tussle at Paris' Stade de France to take pole position in the battle to top Pool B.

Leinster's Sheehan had come into the tournament nursing a foot injury having sprained foot in a warm-up clash against England but was able to make his World Cup bow as a second-half substitute against the Springboks and in the aftermath, the 25-year-old spoke of his delight at finally seeing some action.

"I've been thinking about this sort of day for a long time and it was frustrating over the last few weeks having to watch the boys do a great job on the pitch but obviously you want to be involved," he told RTÉ Sport.

"So what a game to come back to and huge for us to move forward again for the rest of the tournament."

Sheehan was especially satisfied by how Ireland overcame teething problems with their line-out to get the better of the arm wrestle with the powerful South Africans.

"We probably took a while to find our feet in the game. We had probably missed a few opportunities which we'll have to look back on and make sure we clear up those patches," he said.

"But to keep a team like that - South Africa - in the form that they're in, to keep them behind us for most of the game was really pleasing."

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