Van der Flier eyeing first-team return
DUBLIN, IRELAND - APRIL 01: Josh van der Flier of Leinster catches the ball during the European Rugby Champions Cup match between Leinster and Wasps at the Aviva Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Leinster flanker Josh Van der Flier is determined to break into the first-team again upon his return from a lengthy lay-off.
Van der Flier, however, knows that competition for places is extremely hot right now.
“Everyone is playing well,” he told the Irish Times.
“Even coming back from injury you can’t afford a bad game because then you won’t play.
“Dan [Leavy] has been brilliant and Jack Conan has been unbelievable as well and Seanie O’Brien] too.
“Everyone in the back row and Rhys [Ruddock] got man of the match there a few weeks ago.”
The 23-year-old has also revealed his huge disappointment at missing out on the Champions Cup quarter-final against Wasps.
“I was disappointed because everyone wants to start,” he added.
“There are no complaints. I completely understood the selection. I had only played the one game against Cardiff so…if I was unbiased I wouldn’t have picked me either. You have to look at it in that way.”