Nov 28,2024
There are quite a few subplots at play in Ireland's meeting with Australia on Saturday.
The fourth game of this Autumn Nations Series window, it’s also serving as the game that will mark the IRFU’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Just as the Ireland women’s team did when they hosted the Wallaroos in September, Andy Farrell's side will don a special edition kit to mark the occasion.
As well as that, there will be an extra focus on the two coaches.
Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, now leading Australia, is back in town for the first time since he stepped down after the Rugby World Cup in 2019. Meanwhile, this will be Farrell’s final game in charge of Ireland before he temporarily vacates the post to go work for the British and Irish Lions – where he will be going up against Schmidt’s Wallabies.
A chance for the Ireland players to send their head coach off on a high, and also a final chance for them to make an impression on their coach, who will be selecting his Lions squad after the Six Nations.
""It's not something we're thinking of very much, I'm sure it's interesting for him because he'll be coaching against Australia late next year, but from our point of view; he's our Irish coach and we're fully in the week," Josh van der Flier said about the Lions narrative.
"Everyone's just so immersed in getting focused for this game and trying to play as well as we can. We'll try and leave all the rest of the stuff up to other people to talk about.
"We're more excited to play against Australia - a good, proud rugby nation that they are.
"That's how I'd see it, obviously I'm sure there's that narrative going on in behind, but as far as I'm concerned we're just playing a rugby game against a proud rugby nation and we're getting excited for that."
The 31-year-old (above) hasn’t been on a Lions tour before, despite being a former World Player of the Year, which he won in 2022.
When the Lions toured New Zealand in 2017, he was still in the infancy of his Test career, while the 2021 tour of South Africa came at a time when he had just reclaimed his place in the Ireland squad.
The flanker looks well placed to be involved in next summer’s tour of Australia, but insists it’s not something that will distract him.
"I try not to think about it, to be honest, it's a long way away.
"There's a lot of games to go, but it's not something we'd thought about a huge amount.
"Of course, anyone playing in any of the teams involved would love to be involved in that team. But, again, it's so far away you almost don't think about them."
The Leinster back row has started each of Ireland’s three games so far in the Autumn Nations Series, and is expected to retain his place at openside flanker for this weekend’s meeting with the Wallabies, with Schmidt set to unveil his matchday squad later this afternoon.
Van der Flier has been one of the most consistent performers across the three games, scoring tries against New Zealand and Fiji, while he has also been in exceptional form for Leinster, playing four of their opening six games in the URC.
And the Wicklow native says that good start to the campaign has come off the back of some self-reflection.
"Feeling good. When the body feels good that’s the first thing. It feels fresh.
"There’s always different things we’re all trying to work on and I probably had a bit of a think over the off-season. I talked to a few people about how I could improve, things I could get better at. Trying to find what works best for me.
"Last year I probably found myself in areas of the game, particularly attacking-wise, where I wasn’t making the most of what I am good at.
"One thing would be trying to be in the pick-and-goes and the tight stuff. If I’m not as heavy as some of the other guys, then maybe leave that to the Andrew Porters of this world, whereas a bit further out, a bit more time being the outside forward, I would find myself more effective in that area. That is something I have tried to work on as well.
"I was probably a bit inefficient in some games, trying to work hard all throughout but probably burning more energy than I needed to and then not having the energy at times it was needed."
The back row is in line to win his 70th cap on Saturday, with Schmidt giving him his first away to England in 2016 (above).
"When I came into the Leinster academy he [Schmidt] was my first coach so that was my first experience of fully professional rugby. He helped me a huge amount.
"His emphasis on detail, he goes above and beyond in that way. That attention to detail he shows was something I tried to develop into my game and he is a brilliant coach.
"I learned a huge amount from him. He has played a huge role in my career to date," Van der Flier added.
