THERE CLEARLY WASN’T any issue for Josh van der Flier reintegrating into the Leinter set-up after his outstanding November with Ireland.
The openside flanker started all four of Ireland’s games against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia and was arguably the best of Andy Farrell’s players over the course of the month.
And that form continued yesterday evening as the 31-year-old made a brilliant return for Leinster in their 35-12 Champions Cup win over Bristol.
When Leinster went down to 13 players in the first half, van der Flier was among those to step up most prominently. His huge carry laid the platform for Jordan Larmour’s try when Leinster still had a two-man disadvantage.
Van der Flier got a try of his own in the second half from an explosive carry off a close-range lineout. It was just reward for his relentlessly abrasive performance in the number seven shirt.
“It was great, nice to get back home, back in with Leinster and see everyone, catch up with all the lads,” said van der Flier of getting straight back to business with his province over the past week.
“It was obviously a challenge, all the international lads have the Irish calls in your head and you’re trying to transition as well but it was an enjoyable week and I was excited to get in.”
The impact of Leinster’s bench understandably stole the limelight at Ashton Gate, but the response from Leo Cullen’s side after going down to 13 men and conceding the opening try to Bristol was also key.
It meant they went in 7-7 at half time after Larmour’s try.
“The talk was very calm, Jack [Conan] was speaking,” said van der Flier of the moments after Bristol’s opening try.
“He acknowledged where we were at, down to 13 men but the emphasis was on working really hard for each other and not trying to solve things on your own.
“It shouldn’t be this way, but it’s probably when we had the most energy defensively when we were down to 13. I thought it was really good from the lads.
“The backs particularly worked really, really hard, made some great reads, Jordan managed to get the score from some great pressure. Very well dealt with from the lads.”
And then the bench came on in the second half to do the business.
Jordie Barrett, RG Snyman, Caelan Doris, and Andrew Porter are as high-impact as subs get.
“It’s brilliant, I thought they did really, really well,” said van der Flier.
“You look at the quality of the lads coming on, there’s quality on the pitch but to bring on fresh legs like that. They’re some pretty special players, all capable of having big moments.
“The front row [Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson] did well coming on as well, so it was good all round.
“It gave a huge amount of energy, felt good out there. It rejuvenates you when you’ve got fresh lads talking. I thought it was brilliant.”
As a Connacht man I really have to admire Leinster. They are so good at developing young players. From the schools through to the academy and on. If anything they are victims of their own success with an overflow of young talent. And it isn’t just down to financial backing as some say here, you have to produce the talent first and then mould it before the financial side kicks in. The rest of the provinces need to get their act together…I mean Munster have the second and third largest cities in Ireland this side of the border. Limericks rugby scene is non existent now. If it wasn’t for west cork producing players I don’t know where Munster would be. Connacht unfortunately will never be at the top table and Ulster flatter to decide, they have the potential.
@anthony davoren: Leinster had the good fortune of having a very strong and privately funded schools system. Fair dues to them for taking advantage of that but that’s a huge inherent advantage over the other provinces. That said, the other provinces didn’t get their act together until more recently and it’ll take time for the results if that to show. It’s true that Hurling seemed to win the battle for hearts and minds in Limerick recently leading to few young players from what was previously a stronghold.
@Michael Corkery: there are privately funded schools in every province though. Are the powers that be provincially doing enough to develop rugby in them? Compared to England and France where their big teams develop little to none of their squad players. They poach them from other areas. Leinster by default are actually providers to the other provinces with the exception of the odd player like Henshaw
@anthony davoren: Limerick still has the lions share of AIL clubs (not bad for 100 thousand+ people) but the IRFU are dead set on ruining the AIL so can see it getting worse.
Leinster team which is the basis of the Irish squad looked very average against a young enthusiast Bristol team albeit that Bristol are second in the English Prem.
The big change came when Snyman Barret Doris Porter were introduced from the bench… The point I’m trying to make is do Ireland have a Snyman and Barret type of player within in our 4 province’s…. From a Munster prospective I see Tom Aherne the closest to a Snyman type.., his athleticism and foot work and good with ball in hand…. Tom Farrell is the other player I see raising the awareness towards him and his ability the threaten the gain line and break tackles with off loading skillset .. he has really stepped up another notch since moving to Munster…. Again food for thought….?
@Den: PS my comment is not an attack on Leinster or the fact that they predominantly make up the Irish team…. That is deserving of how dominant Leinster have been over the last decade and more bit as Cullen and coaching staff have noticed Leinster are not the full package to compete the task and win the 5th star, but I feel if they can keep Snyman and Barret fit for Cup games I would fancy them strongly to win this competition….