No 'specific theme' for Ireland and Leinster losses, says Dan Sheehan

Dan Sheehan says there's no common theme across Leinster and Ireland’s big-game defeats this season.

The province provides most of the personnel to Andy Farrell’s national team and while Ireland have delivered exceptional performances against South Africa at the World Cup and France in the Six Nations, and Leinster beat back-to-back European champions La Rochelle home and away, three defeats stand out.

Ireland underperformed against the All Blacks with a World Cup semi-final on the line and failed to play to their usual standards with a potential historic double Grand Slam at stake against England in March.

And ten days ago, Leinster produced a performance way off their best, with numerous handling errors and turnovers costing them against Toulouse in the Champions Cup final.

Speaking after the match, Robbie Henshaw said the team were "not ourselves".

Ireland and Leinster employ performance coaches, Gary Keegan and Declan Darcy, respectively, both highly regarded by players and staff.

Asked if the reviews of those games, all decided by narrow margins, identified any common traits to explain the performances, hooker Sheehan told RTÉ Sport: "I don't think it’s a mindset thing.

"I think everyone’s intent, you see in those games, is right at the top.

"It’s tough when you are playing a team that obviously has a plan to disrupt you and if that plan works, they’ll probably do well.

"I don’t think there’s been one specific theme over the last couple of years but we have definitely taken our lessons from each of those games and hopefully put them into practice when we come into these knockout games.

"Ultimately, it’s going to be the hardest game you play all season, finals are always going to have a different feel to it.

"We review each