Andrew Sheridan is backed for Lions call-up by rival Dan Cole

Leicester prop Dan Cole prepared for his first competitive tussle with Andrew Sheridan next week by insisting the Lions cannot afford to ignore the form of the Toulon colossus.
Despite packing down together seven times for England, Sheridan’s injury problems at Sale meant he never squared off against Cole in the Premiership.
That should change next Sunday when the Tigers head to the south of France for their Heineken Cup quarter-final, where Sheridan, 33, has been reinvigorated by his move to Toulon.
And Cole told The Rugby Paper that it will be very hard to ignore Sheridan who is at the very peak of his powers.
He said: “I think the way he is playing he has to be in contention for the Lions. The move has done him the world of good and he’s playing better now than when he was capped.
“He is definitely international quality and if he is better than he was before then he should be selected.
“I’ve played with him a few times for England and against him in practice but this will be very different. That was when I first came into the set-up and he is a good guy and a tough player.
“I’ve seen a bit of him in the Top 14 this season although the proper analysis will be done next week. We’ve seen his games and the way he scrummages so nothing will be a shock to us because we’ll be prepared.
“I’m looking forward to it, Toulon are one of the best sides in Europe and you can see the quality of players that they have.
“You want a challenge; you don’t want to play matches where you are guaranteed to come out on top. That’s what sport is about.”
Cole received the ideal warm-up for what is bound to be a titanic encounter after facing off against another behemoth in Northampton‘s Soane ‘Tiny’ Tonga’uiha on Saturday.
In both cases, Cole – who tips the scales at 18st 8lb – concedes over a stone but he says that he relishes bringing man mountains such as Sheridan down to size.
“They are quality looseheads and are two of the best in the world in their position,” Cole added. “They are part of the reason their teams are so good. It’s a challenge but one you look forward to.
“They are both big men who are very strong and technically quite efficient as well.
“They’re big, strong and you have got to match that and then win the technical battle. That’s what we train for – we are under no illusions how hard it will be next week but we’re not daunted by it.”
There is a sense that Cole misses Sheridan’s presence alongside him, particularly after a Welsh front row led by Gethin Jenkins – who cannot get a game for Toulon because of Sheridan – did a number on England in the Six Nations decider.
Two years before that Cole also started in Dublin when another Grand Slam disappeared into the ether but this time the 25-year-old says the pain has gone deeper.
Yet with Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill on the prowl, Cole says that feeling sorry for yourself is never an option at Welford Road.
“The pain is comparable if not greater because I had been with everybody for longer,” he added. “We had worked really hard to get to that point but we need to store that feeling and use it positively for the future.
“You don’t have time to reflect in rugby because this club expects you to hit the ground running. There’s still a lot of rugby to be played this season and it doesn’t get any bigger than Toulon away.”
DANIEL SCHOFIELD