World Rugby player of the year Josh van der Flier makes his team-mates look good.

Josh van der Flier was named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland men’s player of the year.

After a summer of good times, Josh van der Flier is out to keep up his scintillating form.

Ireland boss Andy Farrell praised the openside’s contribution against Japan.

Josh van der Flier says he and the seven-man pack felt ‘comfortable’ at half-time, but errors allowed Wales win back control.

He’ll be free to play again when the sides meet in round three.

Tom Wood’s clear-out attempt caught the Ireland flanker full in the face.

Competing for a starting slot is different at 27 than it was at 23 for Josh van der Flier.

Josh van der Flier is working on taking his game to the next level.

Maybe he likes the misery.

The back row need only look to his backs coach to find someone who understands the pain of missing a European final.

The Leinster flanker starred in the victory over the All Blacks and is retained at openside for the visit of England.

The Leinster openside and Jordi Murphy were on duty in Chicago and key again in a second win over New Zealand.

The 25-year-old has returned from a long-term ACL injury in impressive fashion.

The Leinster flanker’s head was trampled on by Connacht prop Dominic Robertson-McCoy.

The Leinster man wound up in the surgeon’s theatre on the same day as Brogan.

The province confirmed that scrum-half Nick McCarthy will be sidelined for ‘the next few weeks.’

The Leinster flanker injured his ACL on the opening day of the Six Nations and admits a wince at the brilliant performances of Dan Leavy in his absence.

In positive news, Dave Kilcoyne has re-joined the squad.

The Wicklow man is a natural fit in Ireland’s back row, so it’s easy to forget he is still encountering firsts aplenty in his career.

Luke McGrath and Fergus McFadden have benefitted from Leinster’s imperious form to earn a place among the replacements.

The flanker says he needs to improve the impact he makes with ball in hand rather than ‘just catching it and putting the head down.’

Josh van der Flier comes in to start for the injured Rhys Ruddock, while Andrew Porter could be in line to make his Champions Cup debut.

He’s achieved a lot in his short career, so it’s about time Josh van der Flier started against Munster.

The flanker reckons it’s around 15 years since he played without headgear, but the heat in New Jersey and Japan has forced a change.

The eastern province scored five tries to ruin John Muldoon’s 300th cap party.

Fresh from international duty, Cian Healy, Dan Leavy and Luke McGrath all start.

There is huge competition in the back row, and the Leinster man is hoping to have a big impact on Saturday.

At the end of a truly remarkable year for the flanker, Josh van der Flier sits down with The42 to try and take stock of it all.

The ever-ready openside is willing to slot in anywhere in Leo Cullen’s side… anywhere!

The 23-year-old has been superb off the bench against the All Blacks in recent weeks.

With the dust settled on Twickenham, Joe Schmidt spoke about the defeat and the latest injury news in his camp.

Mike Ross tells us about his monstrous Leinster team-mate and how he’d never willingly hang up his Ireland jersey.

Ireland’s back-line suddenly looks a lot bigger than their opposite numbers in England.