Dan Sheehan says Lions can fire up travelling support if they ‘give them a win’

Dan Sheehan insists a winning series against Australia is the best legacy his British and Irish Lions can leave behind.

The Lions are strong favourites to complete their first triumphant tour since 2013 when they toppled the Wallabies 2-1 and they enter Saturday’s opening Test buoyed by a perfect record Down Under of five wins.

Fans will start streaming into Brisbane over the coming days and in the face of criticism in the Australian media that Andy Farrell’s tourists have shown limited willingness to engage in community events, Sheehan declares winning is the only currency that matters.

“The best way to connect with supporters is to give them a win,” the Ireland hooker said.

“Performance is the way to do that. Yeah we can give them a cheer and a clap after the game but ultimately that’s not what they came for – they came for a good game of rugby. If we do that, they’ll feel part of it.

“A goal of ours is to make sure that if we have a big crowd on Saturday – which we probably will – we bring them into the game and make it feel almost like a 50/50 game that could be anywhere in the world.

“But I still think it’s down to what we put out on the pitch, that’s how you get the crowd in behind you.

“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.

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

“We’re in a good spot. The lads are hungry, and we’re expecting the Wallabies to be hungry. There will be fireworks on Saturday.”

The Lions ruffled feathers in the wake of their 48-0 victory over