Josh van der Flier was the foundation stone having started 19 games and appearing as a replacement in the other one. Unused against Italy in round two, van der Flier started in that famous win over England in Twickenham but then reverted to the bench against Wales last week. “It's an unbelievably competitive place,” van der Flier said. Van der Flier has been taken by a player who doesn’t show nerves and prepares meticulously. “The way he trains, how hard he goes, it shows in the game then,” said van der Flier.

Source: Irish Examiner March 11, 2026 07:45 UTC