Talk of Irish rugby's decline 'nonsense' - Sheehan

Ireland captain Dan Sheehan says he has "full confidence" in his team-mates as he dismissed talk of a decline in Irish rugby as "nonsense".

Sheehan will once again captain Ireland this month in Caelan Doris' absence

Andy Farrell's side sit third in the world rankings, but a string of double-digit losses to South Africa, New Zealand and France have raised question marks about the team's trajectory.

Farrell this week admitted his team are not yet ready to have realistic ambitions of winning next year's World Cup in Australia.

But before facing Argentina, Fiji and world champions South Africa at home in this month's Nations Championship fixtures, Sheehan insisted Ireland must "fully back ourselves".

"I've full confidence in this group," said Sheehan, who is again deputising for injured skipper Caelan Doris this month.

Source: BBC Sport