Latest news with #JoshVanDerFlier
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Curry 'timing' form perfectly
Open-side flanker is one of the most competitive positions in the British and Irish Lions squad but England's Tom Curry says he is timing his rise to form will be in possession of the number seven shirt when the tourists face Brumbies in Canberra on Wednesday, with Ireland's Josh van der Flier and England's Henry Pollock among the captain Jac Morgan and England's Ben Earl are also in contention for the role but Curry is intent on retaining the jersey for the Test series with Australia despite facing "world class" competition."I don't do stats and numbers," said Curry. "I judge my games on how hard I work and that is how I get my enjoyment out of the games, getting off the floor and running, and usually that puts me in the best spot to do what I want to do. "I feel like I've done that and I feel like I could definitely add and there are moments where I've probably not been the best but I feel like it's building."All the back-rowers are great within their own right. From [Henry] Pollock to Josh van der Flier and Jac to Ben [Earl], everyone is word class in their own rights."I feel like I'm in a really good place. It was a bit stop-start but now it's back-to-back games and I feel like the more you play the better you get, so I'm timing it well."
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Never complacent' in a Lions jersey
England back row Ben Earl says no player playing for the British and Irish Lions can become complacent about a Test 27-year-old produced his best performance on tour in the Lions' 21-10 victory over New South Wales Waratahs on Lions number eight registered 21 carries, the most of any player from both sides."How can you be complacent when you're playing for the Lions?" Earl told BBC Sport."You get complacent, you let down the badge, you let down the honour."You're never complacent when you pull on a Lions shirt."Earl responded to the performance of Wales flanker Jac Morgan, who was named player of the match on Wednesday against Queensland Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan have also impressed in Australia, with Henry Pollock having multiple eye-catching breaks, as the competition in the back row remains first Test against Australia is on 19 July in Brisbane."I never want to copy the way Jac Morgan plays the game because I wouldn't be true to myself," he added."It is about finding a balance to what you're trying to do, but also, I'm just trying to be a good team-mate as that is what the Lions is about."I want to be remembered as being a good team-mate."If it doesn't go my way in Brisbane, come two weeks today, so be it."I have not come in with an expectation of saying 'I want to play in this Test'."
Irish Times
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Gerry Thornley: Mack Hansen showed exactly why Andy Farrell made him a Lions player
On the hour mark, Josh van der Flier picked up from a Lions ruck just inside the Western Force half, saw daylight and broke clear. As Henry Pollock steamed up on his inside, another opportunist long-range Lions try seemed on. But Van der Flier's attempted offload inside the Force 22 plopped into the hands of the home fullback Ben Donaldson and he broke up field, with everyone else running in the opposite direction. A try at the other end suddenly seemed likely as Donaldson ran to the Lions' 10-metre line and kicked ahead. Mack Hansen was the eighth-most advanced Lions player in attack but he turned and saw the danger before gobbling up the ground as others appeared to be jogging on the spot in quickly covering back 50 metres. Hansen dived on to the loose ball, bounced to his feet, fended a tackle and offloaded to Huw Jones. Hansen's work was only beginning. He back-pedalled to his position on the right wing and just seven seconds later received a pass from Dan Sheehan . Hansen kicked downfield and chased from his own 22 to the Force 22 and tackled Max Burey, whose pass infield was dropped by Henry Robertson. Okay, that was an added bonus, but Hansen's work-rate had effectively earned two turnovers and a net gain of 60 metres. READ MORE In the coaches' box, Andy Farrell had cursed in frustration and put his hands on his head when the Lions had initially turned the ball over, but when the cameras panned back after Hansen's cameo, the head coach was unusually animated in roaring approvingly and happily punching the air with both fists. Alongside Farrell, video analyst Vinny Hammond and Simon Easterby joined in the applause and smiled. Mack Hansen after the victory over the Western Force in Perth. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Hansen wasn't perfect, and knocked on soon afterwards, to be left shaking his head – not for the first time. But it was no surprise that Farrell singled out those moments immediately afterwards. 'This was a lot of the lads' first game, so we're up and running and we'll keep pushing it forward. There were some fantastic tries, but the play of the day was Mack Hansen going up and down the field,' said the coach approvingly. It will also be no surprise therefore, if Farrell also singles out Hansen's work-rate on the hour mark when the Lions conduct their review as an example to all. Hansen is an intelligent, skilful rugby player who is deceptively athletic and bravely looks to influence matches. And the coach knows that if he has 15 players willing to stay alert and be involved at all times, and also possess the honesty of effort which Hansen showed in those moments, his team has every chance of beating their opponents. In keeping with someone who started his coaching journey overseeing defence, Farrell's teams pride themselves on that side of the game and to that end, work-rate when the opposition have the ball is key. For the Lions to restrict the Force to just one try from eight visits to the 22 will have pleased Farrell no end. But as important is work-rate in possession as well and it was striking how often the Lions scored tries through players making a second touch in the move. Sheehan's touchdown after he palmed Finn Russell's crosskick inside to James Lowe and withstood the tackle of Dylan Pietsch to then take the return offload just 95 seconds into the game was the quickest Lions try ever. Henry Pollock breaks clear to set up the Lions' second try, scored by Tomos Williams, during the tour match against Western Force. Photograph:) It was also Pollock's second touch after taking a return offload from Van der Flier which led to him setting up Tomos Williams's first try. Likewise, after Hansen sent Lowe clear early in the second half, both Lowe and Williams had two touches apiece before the latter scored his second. Garry Ringrose constantly worked on and off the ball for his try. Alex Mitchell had started the last phase of the game before finishing their eighth try in overtime with his second touch. Indeed, Hansen's lung-bursting contribution on the hour inspired him into producing some of his best rugby of the match. Nearing the 80-minute mark, it was Hansen's intercept which ended the Force's final attack of the match, before he offloaded to Marcus Smith. Hansen then stepped in at scrumhalf from the ensuing recycle and passed to Pollock. Another phase later and when Elliot Daly's skip-passed him to hit Sione Tuipulotu, it was Hansen who supported on his centre's inside to take the pass, break clear, draw the last man and put Mitchell over. His third touch. In moments like those, Hansen demonstrates the kind of playmaking, footballing ability which can also make his position on the wing somewhat notional. Hansen's tattoo of Farrell on his leg is further evidence that he is as daft as a brush, but it also demonstrates the bond between the two. When Farrell wasted little time in bringing Hansen into the Irish squad following his arrival at Connacht in 2021, it raised a few eyebrows. But not the least of Farrell's skills as a coach is his ability to identify an international quality player and back those hunches by swiftly promoting them into the Irish team, other examples being Joe McCarthy and Jamison Gibson-Park . Of course, Hansen's personality and return to the country where he was born and reared would also have earmarked him as 'a good tourist'. He ticks many boxes. He may or may not make the Test 23 but having made a positive impact off the bench against Argentina, he's already dispelled much of the debate about his inclusion in the squad.
Irish Times
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Five things we learned as Lions secure victory over Western Force in Perth
Big Joe and Josh make early gains in bid for Test starts Joe McCarthy and Josh van der Flier put themselves in the driving seat for a Test match start when the Lions meet Australia in Brisbane on July 19th. There is many a slip betwixt cup and lip over the next three weeks but the Leinster lock and openside flanker both had outstanding performances against Western Force and both were to the fore during the Australian side's strongest phase of the match in the first half. McCarthy's all-round game, his ability to break and get stuck in, as well as his natural size and strength, will match up at Test level. Van der Flier also rose as the Lions struggled, his commitment to the defensive line, his engine and gainline breaks eye-catching throughout. It is too early for predictions but if they play once more like they did on Saturday they are in. Dylan Pietsch of the Western Force runs away from Lions tacklers during the game in Perth. Photograph:First-half defensive display would be fatal against Wallabies So, what if the Lions turn up against Australia in three weeks' time and put in a defensive display like the first half on Saturday. The short answer is they will be so far behind at half-time that the Wallabies will be out of sight. The breakdown area and the tackling were so far off that Western Force looked at one stage that they were going to force the Lions into a chasing game. Some Lions players were stepping up, others were standing off, some high, some low, some drifting across the pitch and when they got there were making ineffective edge tackles. The breakdown area lacked focus, accuracy and but for a few players, a physical commitment and the hard edge required to set a tone and drain any of the confidence the opposition might have had. It was addressed at half-time by Andy Farrell . But against Joe Schmidt's side anything similar will prove fatal. READ MORE Finn Russell tackles Matty Proctor of Western Force. Photograph: Billy Sitckland/Inpho Finn Russell's skill set to the fore in Perth Finn Russell, the Marmite man. Many people see just his errors and other people see just his ability. The coaches always weigh one against the other, but the outhalf charmed the socks off his fans with his feints and delayed passes, his vision and his sharpshooter kicking from both his hands and the tee. Russell has also added a bit of rough and tumble to his game. His defence had been questioned in the past but it looked better against the Force and he was prepared to put his body on the line when the Lions were on the back foot. That said, Farrell will rightly want Russell on the ball going forward to stick defenders as they close him down, have them move for passes that he does not throw and make them try to anticipate what he is going to do next. Not a bad skill set. Josh van Der Flier and Jack Conan celebrate the win over Western Force. Photograph:Leinster players have cohesive effect Cohesion was the word that Farrell mentioned most after last week's defeat by Argentina, or the lack of it. And maybe that is why he picked eight Irish starters against Western Force, or over half the Lions team. Three more in backrow Jack Conan, hooker Rónan Kelleher and prop Andrew Porter came into the match in the second half and kicked on to keep the scoreboard ticking over. The next few matches will tell whether Farrell has settled on an Irish way of playing with Irish players dominating the selection as a means of short-circuiting the lack of time the team have been together. While there is plenty more to get right over the next three weeks, there is no doubt the Leinster players flooding back into the squad helped what Farrell has missed in spades last week in Dublin. Tomos Williams clutches his left hamstring as he is replaced. Photograph:Jack van Poortvliet should keep his phone charged When Lions scrumhalf Tomos Williams dived over the line after his brilliant exchange with James Lowe to sore his second try of the match, he appeared to immediately grab his hamstring and left the field for England's Alex Mitchell. With Jamison Gibson-Park yet to play a match on the tour, it leaves the Lions with a what to do next question with regards to the scrumhalves. Farrell was equivocal about the seriousness of Williams injury describing it as 'a tight hamstring, so ... You don't know what these things are like. Hopefully it's a bit of cramp. We'll assess that, certainly in the morning.' Last week Leicester Tigers and England scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet flew into Dublin to train with the Lions as they prepared for the 1888 Cup fixture against Argentina. Can you hear his phone ringing?
Irish Times
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Josh van der Flier: ‘Playing for the Lions is a very hard thing to do, so it's pretty cool'
Josh van der Flier has his own, fairly unique, rugby back story. Although of Dutch origin on his paternal grandparents' side, his dad, Dirk, played wing for Old Wesley, both school and club, and was his first coach. Even so, van der Flier's journey from Wicklow and the local club's under-8s to the British & Irish Lions was not exactly plotted out. Ask him of his first memories of a Lions tour and it's clear the team was a relatively remote concept when he was growing up. 'We didn't have the channels in my house. My grandparents lived across the road so we would go in there and watch the Lions. I just have a vague memory of it. I would have been quite young, 'I distinctly remember, I think it was 2005, we had a family video and we taped over it by mistake. It was Lions against New Zealand that year, would that be right?' he asks, unsure, as he would have been 12 at the time. READ MORE 'We used to watch that over and over again. We didn't have the TV channels at home, it was just cassettes. It was either that or Star Wars or something,' he remembers, laughing. 'So, I ended up watching a lot of 2005 Lions games.' Even then, the concept of one day playing for the Lions didn't even register with him. 'Gosh, I didn't really know that rugby was a job when I was younger. It probably wouldn't have been something I verbalised, but I used to watch an Irish game or a game on TV and then go out to the garden and pretend to be someone who played for Ireland or the Lions. 'It's probably the pinnacle. It's hard to compare with playing for your country, but it is a very hard thing to do, so it's pretty cool.' Josh van der Flier with Duhan van der Merwe and Tadhg Beirne training with the Lions. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho Although this is his 10th season of international rugby, van der Flier missed out on both the 2017 and 2021 Lions tours, when Tom Curry, Hamish Watson and Justin Tipuric were all preferred, as was Josh Navidi after Tipuric was injured in the warm-up win over Japan. Van der Flier's career then went into overdrive with that stellar 2021-22 season, which featured the world rugby player of the year award. With him turning 32 last April, becoming a Lion this year appears to have been close to an obsession in the last year or so. May 8th was the fateful squad announcement and he didn't want to be with his Leinster squad-mates. 'We finished training at 1.30 or something and the announcement was 2. I didn't even bother showering, I was straight out the door because I didn't want to be there in front of loads of lads if guys didn't get picked or if I didn't. 'So, I just went home. My wife [Sophie De Patoul] actually facetimed me so we watched it together. It was a long wait. Last time I had a vague memory of the announcement just popping up and that was it. This time it was like 30 minutes of TV before it got to it. I was sitting there sweating on the couch.' A surname beginning with the letter 'V' didn't help, especially as the names of Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan and Henry Pollock all preceded him. 'You have a good idea of how squads are made up, so you need specialised lineout back rows, maybe one or two sevens, and then there was like four sevens and my name hadn't been called and you think 'oh no' but I made it in the end.' Josh van der Flier, not sweating on the couch any more. Photograph: Andrew Conan/Inpho That was five days after Leinster's crushing loss to Northampton and van der Flier resolved to park the Lions and focus on the URC. He was not unduly concerned about the first hamstring twinge of his career, which forced him off against the Scarlets and ruled him out of the semi-final against Glasgow before he returned for the final against the Bulls. 'People were asking me what the story is with tickets, wondering what my plans were, and I was literally saying 'I'm not even thinking about that until I'm finished'. Winning the URC was brilliant, so it was ignore it until I was there.' His first week in camp wasn't exactly how he imagined living with the Lions. Not that it wasn't without its advantages. Staying in the Shelbourne, he could meet Sophie every day for lunch and training at Belfield Bowl brought back memories of playing with UCD in the AIL. 'Seeing John Hammond [father of Lions video analyst Vinny], who would have been the team manager when I was here as well, it was very special.' This week in Perth feels more authentic in advance of his likely Lions debut against Western Force, two decades on from rewatching the video of the 2005 tour. He's come a long way, with the chance now to leave his own legacy.
