EVEN THE GUY’S name is interesting.
Josh van der Flier, the latest exciting back row off a Leinster production line that has been hugely prolific for what seems like decades.
22-year-old van der Flier wears the seven shirt for the province tomorrow in Toulon (KO 3.15pm Irish time, Sky Sports), with Sean O’Brien continuing to struggle with vestibular impairment. Even if O’Brien had been fit, van der Flier was demanding inclusion in the starting XV.
There are some talents that simply cannot be ignored, and while Garry Ringrose continues to kick his heels on the bench amidst serious backline competition, van der Flier – whose grandparents hail from the Netherlands – gets his first European start.
A product of Wesley College and now a UCD man, van der Flier made six senior appearances last season in his final year with Leinster’s academy. Having graduated onto a full professional contract during the summer, the openside has been exceptional for Leo Cullen’s side in five starts this season so far.
Used off the bench against Bath in the province’s most recent European outing, van der Flier powered his way over for a try.
Already an Ireland international at U19 and U20 levels, van der Flier’s promise was highlighted by Joe Schmidt last season when the Kiwi named him alongside Munster’s Jack O’Donoghue as one of the young players he had been impressed by.
This season has seen van der Flier take another leap in his development, as his ever-improving physical attributes have augmented his strong skills and game intelligence.
“I think the energy and the level of detail in his preparation and performances so far,” said Leinster head coach Cullen when asked what has stood out in van der Flier’s displays.
“He deserves his shot this week and earns his first start in Europe, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him play. Steffon Armitage has probably been the dominant seven in Europe in the last four years, so it’s a big challenge for him.”
Cullen points to Leinster’s back row competition – name checking Jordi Murphy, Dominic Ryan and Rhys Ruddock – as one of the reasons van der Flier’s development has been so accelerated. The Wesley alumnus won’t settle for being outside the first-choice XV.
“He’s been unbelievable every time he’s played this year and I don’t see why he wouldn’t be the same this week,” said his back row partner Ruddock. “He’s a quality player and the attitude he brings to every game is commendable. I’m looking forward to playing alongside him again.
“There’s always guys to come into the team and they keep raising the bar. Josh is definitely someone who’s driving the standards at the moment in terms of his on-field performance and influence around the place.”
It’s that attitude that is perhaps the most telling sign that van der Flier is capable of even more; he is not content to sit meekly in the background as players of greater experience dominate the group. This youngster has altogether different expectations of himself.
Such a mentality has brought him to tomorrow’s stage in Stade Mayol, where a Toulon side led by the back row of Steffon Armitage, Duane Vermeulen and Mamuka Gorgodze will be on another level to what he has faced before.
“Getting Vermeulen in there only adds to the strength that they have,” said Ruddock of Toulon. “I played against them two years ago with Armitage in there, and the difficulty he presents when he’s over the ball is something that we probably hadn’t experienced up until that point, being able to move him and (Mathieu) Bastareaud as well.
“These sorts of guys are a massive threat at the breakdown and we know what to expect.”
So what exactly will van der Flier’s role be in this contest? What is Cullen expecting from his openside?
“There’s a couple of things there, it’s his accuracy in terms of arrival at the breakdown when we’re in possession, so it’s that ball security where the seven is generally the first guy at the breakdown and he’s a guy who offers a lot in that area,” said Cullen.
“But he’s also someone whose work in defence has been outstanding, he’d 20 tackles against Ulster the last day and we had the Lions share of possession that day as well.”
In terms of breakdown arrival, the threat of Armitage is something that has stilted Leinster’s European hopes in recent seasons. They’re not the only side that has struggled against the Englishman, although Ruddock is correct in highlighting the multi-faceted danger.
His experience of having faced Armitage and co. will be useful, but Ruddock underlines that van der Flier himself knows exactly what he needs to do.
“You see it on the video but (Armitage) is unbelievably quick to get into the space and win turnovers. He is a big, strong man so if you are half a second or a second too late it is hard to do your job.
“It’s just about being there and anticipating his threat and dealing with it. It’s no different to all the other back rows and poachers in the game. He is just probably that much better at it.
“Just knowing the treat he possesses, being aware of it and expecting that fight there is going to be important for us. Then it is just about delivering.”
Van der Flier hasn’t struggled in that regard yet. Another level of performance will be needed, but the latest Leinster back row prospect looks like he has it within him.
