YOU MIGHT THINK Tommy O’Donnell and Josh van der Flier would keep themselves to themselves and wait for their opportunity to make a point against each other on the training ground.
To Joe Schmidt’s benefit, that hasn’t been the case.
Van der Flier could win cap number three this weekend. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
The Munster openside started Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Wales in the absence of Sean O’Brien, before the latter returned for the second round clash with France.
With O’Brien ruled out of the remainder of the competition after suffering a hamstring injury in that France game, however, 11-times capped O’Donnell might have fancied his chances of slotting back into Ireland’s seven shirt.
That was the expectation from many outside Ireland camp too, but it was 22-year-old van der Flier who got the nod to make his debut against England and was then retained for last weekend’s win over Italy.
The Leinster man now seems likely to start for a third time against Scotland on Saturday and says it’s “surreal” to have made such quick progress through the ranks.
O’Donnell could be forgiven for being sick of the sight of the Wesley College alumnus, but van der Flier points out, unprompted, that his openside rival has actually been an important help.
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“I’ve been trying to,” is van der Flier’s reply when asked if he’s been looking to add the important little details to his rucking.
“Hitting past the ball is something we’re trying to work on. Tommy and all the lads have been giving me tips that you need for international rugby, it’s tiny things in hitting a ruck really well that can make the difference.”
O'Donnell has been an influence on van der Flier. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Though he remains one of the least experienced players in this Ireland group, van der Flier is increasingly feeling at home after his first two caps and again singled out O’Donnell in aiding that adaptation process.
“I feel a lot more comfortable, definitely, and the lads have really helped with that,” says van der Flier. “The likes of all the back-row lads, even the guys like Tommy who you’d be competing with, they’ve been really, really good helping me settle into the group.”
O’Donnell might be better served by giving van der Flier the cold shoulder next time the Leinster youngster asks for advice, but this is the working environment that Schmidt and most other coaches positively promote. For the good of the collective cause.
The issue for O’Donnell and others hoping to play on Ireland’s openside flank is that van der Flier is going to be around for some years yet. He is in just his second season of senior rugby, but has made an impression on the entire squad with his work ethic and ability to learn rapidly.
Van der Flier laughs when suggesting that his inability to multi-task may be part of the reason he learns quickly, allowing him to focus in on one thing at a time.
“The lads always give me a really hard time because I would be on my phone or watching TV or something; they’d be asking me a question or saying something and it just wouldn’t register,” says the UCD flanker.
“My mum would be the same. She’d be reading a book or doing something and you’d be talking to her, but she wouldn’t have a clue what would be going on. I don’t know what it is!”
Van der Flier celebrates Fergus McFadden's try last weekend. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Van der Flier stresses the need for multi-tasking on the pitch, however, using defence as an example where he must be aware of several different threats.
His beloved black notepad has quickly become famous in Ireland camp, and something he is slagged for by his teammates, but van der Flier says he’ll keep jotting down learning points and reviewing them at the end of each day and week.
His reputation as a hard worker has always been strong, but van der Flier’s thirst to learn and improve has only grown with further exposure to some of his older, more experienced Leinster and Ireland teammates.
“I suppose looking at teammates within Leinster and lads I’m seeing here, the professionalism is unbelievable,” says van der Flier. “I just picked it up off other players. When you see players like Johnny Sexton and Jamie Heaslip, they’re probably the best at it – being really, really professional.
“You see them performing on the weekend and it just motivates you to try. I wouldn’t be at all at their level in terms of preparation and stuff, but I’m trying to get there.”
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Van der Flier benefits from help of Ireland openside rival O'Donnell
YOU MIGHT THINK Tommy O’Donnell and Josh van der Flier would keep themselves to themselves and wait for their opportunity to make a point against each other on the training ground.
To Joe Schmidt’s benefit, that hasn’t been the case.
The Munster openside started Ireland’s Six Nations opener against Wales in the absence of Sean O’Brien, before the latter returned for the second round clash with France.
With O’Brien ruled out of the remainder of the competition after suffering a hamstring injury in that France game, however, 11-times capped O’Donnell might have fancied his chances of slotting back into Ireland’s seven shirt.
That was the expectation from many outside Ireland camp too, but it was 22-year-old van der Flier who got the nod to make his debut against England and was then retained for last weekend’s win over Italy.
The Leinster man now seems likely to start for a third time against Scotland on Saturday and says it’s “surreal” to have made such quick progress through the ranks.
O’Donnell could be forgiven for being sick of the sight of the Wesley College alumnus, but van der Flier points out, unprompted, that his openside rival has actually been an important help.
“I’ve been trying to,” is van der Flier’s reply when asked if he’s been looking to add the important little details to his rucking.
“Hitting past the ball is something we’re trying to work on. Tommy and all the lads have been giving me tips that you need for international rugby, it’s tiny things in hitting a ruck really well that can make the difference.”
Though he remains one of the least experienced players in this Ireland group, van der Flier is increasingly feeling at home after his first two caps and again singled out O’Donnell in aiding that adaptation process.
“I feel a lot more comfortable, definitely, and the lads have really helped with that,” says van der Flier. “The likes of all the back-row lads, even the guys like Tommy who you’d be competing with, they’ve been really, really good helping me settle into the group.”
O’Donnell might be better served by giving van der Flier the cold shoulder next time the Leinster youngster asks for advice, but this is the working environment that Schmidt and most other coaches positively promote. For the good of the collective cause.
The issue for O’Donnell and others hoping to play on Ireland’s openside flank is that van der Flier is going to be around for some years yet. He is in just his second season of senior rugby, but has made an impression on the entire squad with his work ethic and ability to learn rapidly.
Van der Flier laughs when suggesting that his inability to multi-task may be part of the reason he learns quickly, allowing him to focus in on one thing at a time.
“The lads always give me a really hard time because I would be on my phone or watching TV or something; they’d be asking me a question or saying something and it just wouldn’t register,” says the UCD flanker.
“My mum would be the same. She’d be reading a book or doing something and you’d be talking to her, but she wouldn’t have a clue what would be going on. I don’t know what it is!”
Van der Flier stresses the need for multi-tasking on the pitch, however, using defence as an example where he must be aware of several different threats.
His beloved black notepad has quickly become famous in Ireland camp, and something he is slagged for by his teammates, but van der Flier says he’ll keep jotting down learning points and reviewing them at the end of each day and week.
His reputation as a hard worker has always been strong, but van der Flier’s thirst to learn and improve has only grown with further exposure to some of his older, more experienced Leinster and Ireland teammates.
“I suppose looking at teammates within Leinster and lads I’m seeing here, the professionalism is unbelievable,” says van der Flier. “I just picked it up off other players. When you see players like Johnny Sexton and Jamie Heaslip, they’re probably the best at it – being really, really professional.
“You see them performing on the weekend and it just motivates you to try. I wouldn’t be at all at their level in terms of preparation and stuff, but I’m trying to get there.”
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