Dan Sheehan believes Ross Byrne has been treated harshly

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan believes Ross Byrne has been harshly treated by some elements of the media in recent years.

With Jonathan Sexton a major doubt for Saturday’s Six Nations game away to Italy, Byrne looks set to earn just a third international start.

And Sheehan believes his Leinster teammates deserved the plaudits that have only recently come his way.