Eire’s Josh van der Flier: ‘The subsequent objective is to attempt to win the World Cup’ | Eire rugby union crew

“It was actually, actually irritating,” Josh van der Flier says on a gray day in Dublin as, simply briefly, his glowing good cheer and disarming modesty give option to one thing extra tangled. Van der Flier, the persistently glorious flanker within the crimson scrum cap for Eire and Leinster, is World Rugby’s participant of the yr. He was one of many standout performers in Eire’s latest grand slam, confirming their standing as world No 1, and on Saturday he’ll attempt to assist Leinster beat Toulouse within the semi-finals of the Champions Cup as they set about reclaiming their title as the most effective crew within the northern hemisphere.

However simply over two years in the past, as he was typically saved out of the Leinster and Eire groups by Will Connors, a dejected Van der Flier felt he had hit an invisible wall. “I used to be considering: ‘What extra can I do? I’m engaged on every thing and nonetheless attempting to enhance but it surely’s not fairly occurring.’ It was so irritating as a result of Will was really taking part in brilliantly. However I additionally felt like I used to be taking part in rather well. I bear in mind at one stage he began the sport and acquired man of the match. They rotated the [Leinster] crew the following week and I acquired man of the match. However the next week they picked him to start out and he performed unbelievably.”

Van der Flier smiles, helplessly, as he remembers how Connors was nearly at all times the favoured starter. “I discovered it very troublesome for these six months or so the place he was beginning forward of me for the massive video games. I didn’t know learn how to enhance.” Every thing modified in March 2021, when Connors was injured simply earlier than Eire performed England, and Van der Flier was given one other probability. “One of many bits of suggestions Andy Farrell [Ireland’s head coach] gave me helped. He stated: ‘Get some massive moments and attempt to get extra concerned. Discover methods to make a giant distinction in massive video games.’ Earlier than then I used to be very completely happy simply to be within the background, work actual exhausting, make my tackles, hit the rucks.

“Stuart Lancaster [Leinster’s assistant head coach] described it rather well once I was chatting to him concerning the the explanation why it’s gone higher for me since then. He stated that with ball-carrying I in all probability acquired a bit extra egocentric. It may be the fallacious phrase however earlier than then I might be completely happy for our greatest ball‑carriers to take cost. However I’d acquired to the stage that, if there’s three of us, I’m going to face up and take this ball. That was one of many key issues I developed.”

Van der Flier’s progress since then has been marked however his blistering performances are matched by his humility and generosity off the sphere. “After I consider Will,” he says of Connors, “I really feel it was actually exhausting for him. He was beginning forward of me after which he harm his knee. The poor man’s had harm setbacks however not less than he’s again match now, which is nice. However that gave me the chance to play a variety of video games.”

He additionally attributes his development to a easy lesson handed to him by the now retired Australian ahead Scott Fardy, who performed with him at Leinster from 2017 to 2021. “Scott acquired to know me, and he’d see how I’d overanalyse video games. He was like: ‘Your approach’s good, you’re employed on it hundreds, you are able to do every thing. You simply must loosen up and play the sport relatively than attempting to overanalyse or power it.’ He inspired me to belief my instincts.”

That freedom has coincided with a outstanding run for Van der Flier and Eire. I ask which meant extra – serving to Eire to beat the All Blacks final yr in a sequence in New Zealand for the primary time, or profitable the primary Irish grand slam on dwelling soil in 75 years final month? “The grand slam,” Van der Flier says, “due to watching the Six Nations my entire life. After I take into consideration the New Zealand tour I bear in mind a quote about Italia 90. That World Cup was an enormous factor in Eire with the soccer however one of many gamers stated: ‘I missed Italia 90, as a result of I used to be taking part in.’ He missed all the excitement, all of the enjoyable, the craic.

“It was the identical for us in New Zealand since you’re so centered on the sport, we’re in our bubble and everybody at house is 12 hours behind us. And there was nothing just like the completely unbelievable, superb factor to be a part of in Dublin for the grand slam. You’d see within the streets what it meant to individuals.”

I’ve heard the get together went on a very long time for the Irish crew? Van der Flier grins and says: “Yeah, two, three days. It helped that we had no [Leinster] recreation the following week. Usually I’d discover it exhausting to have fun as a result of I’d at all times be considering of the following recreation. However the Six Nations got here at an ideal time. I may loosen up and we loved the celebrations.”

The World Cup in France is simply over 4 months away and Eire are in formidable form. Does their latest talisman consider they are often even higher as soon as the event begins in September? “Sure, I feel so. Andy Farrell has made very clear since he took over that the crew’s on a journey to maintain enhancing. We’ve developed massively and we’ve a variety of expertise and large video games beneath our belt. It’s very thrilling as a result of we undoubtedly really feel like we’ll nonetheless enhance and that our greatest lies forward.”

He provides: “Andy’s definitely not afraid to offer us massive targets – whether or not profitable in New Zealand or profitable the grand slam. I do know for positive the following objective is to attempt to win the World Cup.”

New Zealand, South Africa and Australia shall be resurgent on the World Cup however France stay marginal favourites as hosts, simply forward of Eire. “The French are at all times identified for the way good they’re at dwelling,” Van der Flier agrees. “They’re a unique beast in France and their depth is unbelievable. They’ve 4 or 5 high quality gamers in each place and are very nicely coached.”

Eire beat them in an distinctive recreation in Dublin within the Six Nations and “it was extremely robust”, Van der Flier says. “I bear in mind us being fairly exhausted. The stats present that there was a variety of kicking but it surely didn’t actually appear to be that kind of recreation. It was fairly intense they usually had been very motivated, a very good crew going exhausting at it, however having the house assist makes an enormous distinction. However the depth and high quality of play, with some unbelievable moments from each groups, made it a type of nice Take a look at matches you’re completely happy to be a part of.”

There shall be one thing of a repeat on Saturday afternoon in Dublin. Leinster, which incorporates lots of the Eire facet, face Toulouse who function nice gamers equivalent to France’s half-back pairing of the good Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. “They’re an outstanding crew,” Van der Flier says of Toulouse. “I watched them towards the Sharks this month they usually had been very spectacular. They’ve acquired a very good pack and harmful, thrilling backs. I’ve performed them just a few occasions now at this stage [of European competition] and it’s a must to be extremely alert the entire time due to their creativity. Somebody picks and goes, throws an offload they usually’re by way of.

“They performed us final yr, and the yr earlier than as nicely, and they are going to be hurting from having misplaced to us the final couple of occasions. They’ve received the European Cup 5 occasions, greater than anybody else, and so it’s a giant problem.”

If Leinster triumph within the European Champions Cup they’ll be part of Toulouse as five-time winners however Van der Flier is acutely acutely aware that La Rochelle, the holders, might be within the ultimate once more. They beat Leinster 24-21 final yr and Van der Flier stresses that defeat has stayed in his head longer than many of the nice victories over the previous two years.

Throughout an absorbing hour-long interview, Van der Flier displays on his wrestle to make an affect in junior rugby, the instance given to him by his Dutch and Irish grandparents, sitting on his father’s shoulders whereas watching Eire play on the previous Lansdowne Street, remembering what it meant to revere the Irish crew again then and the way his understated Christian religion sustains him. Van der Flier additionally explains how he has used Richie McCaw as his back-row template and why, like the previous nice All Black, he’s pushed by a want to continuously enhance.

We additionally discuss concerning the harm of concussion and the way so many former rugby gamers now face the early onset of dementia. Van der Flier says: “For my mum, each my grandmothers and my spouse, they simply hope you’re OK. The result’s secondary. My dad and my brothers focus totally on the efficiency. Clearly they care too however, for my spouse, it undoubtedly took a little bit of getting used to it. She wasn’t massively into rugby and he or she’s discovered it a bit difficult watching.”

Does he fear about potential mind harm? “I don’t assume so, no. It’s clearly very unhappy to see individuals struggling, having performed this nice recreation, however from my expertise with Leinster and Eire our medical workers is unbelievable. There can be occasions the place I feel I’m all geared as much as play and the medical workers make the decision: ‘No, we’ll hold you secure this week, or we received’t take any dangers.’ That facet has improved massively.”

Having turned 29 this month, and being so eminently smart, Van der Flier has began to arrange for all times past rugby. He admits, nearly shyly, that after acquiring his sports activities administration diploma and a grasp’s in enterprise research: “I’ll be on the lookout for a bit of labor expertise quickly.”

There may be time for one final query – a suitably relaxed question as to which two Eire teammates he would select to assist him out on a desert island and which two may not be excellent companions. “I don’t assume I’d carry Andrew Porter and James Ryan [the Irish and Leinster prop and lock],” he replies with fun.

“They’d eat a lot meals that there’d be nothing left for me. And if there was a combat over something I’d lose to each of them. I reckon I’d carry [Ireland and Leinster centre] Garry Ringrose. He’s good firm, an excellent buddy of mine. We’d make golf golf equipment out of sticks and a ball with one thing. I reckon essentially the most helpful can be Peter O’Mahony [the Ireland and Munster flanker]. I can see him constructing a shelter and a ship out of a tree. He’d be very sensible and clued in so he’s coming. He’d hold me alive.”

In that little quip, the wit, energy and unity of Irish rugby is clear. Van der Flier is on the coronary heart of this outstanding story and he carries the conviction and dedication to make this yr massively memorable for himself, Leinster and Eire. “We’re going to offer it our perfect,” he says with the straightforward readability which defines him and his two groups.