The tenacity of Josh van der Flier was palpable in his relentless endeavour to control the progress of the match. Whether it was overthrowing defenders or bringing down the England team on Twickenham’s grounds, he maintained a concentrated determination throughout. The previous globe’s best player wasted no time in demonstrating his vigour as he appeared to be well aware of the impending challenges.
His teammates benefitted immensely from his qualities, particularly during the first half, in the face of an aggressive England team. The domestic team tirelessly harrowed Ireland into a point of distress, unyieldingly contesting every crash, breakdown, lineout and scrum. This sustained strain resulted in a series of mishaps, some compulsory, others would be a basis for Irish disappointment upon reflection.
England exhibited resilience, drawing upon the perseverance required for safeguarding Billy Williams’s “Cabbage Patch”—a nickname formerly bestowed to Twickenham field in honour of the sports magnate tasked by the RFU to locate a domicile for English rugby in the initial years of the the 20th century, not to be confused with the nearby pub. Their devotion fuelled enthusiastic reactions from the crowd, amplified as the prospect of triumph became increasingly real on that crisp evening in southwest London.
Van der Flier, Ireland’s open-side flanker, signalled his ambition by instigating his team’s initial positive offensive moment, his red scrum cap noticeably appearing amongst white-clad bodies on the distant side of a ruck – a position he assumed after discerning England’s concentrated defence.
Despite interaction, Van der Flier provided his team with the much needed ‘go-forward’ possession. A notable defensive act followed shortly, nine minutes into the game. England had painstakingly advanced into their adversaries’ 22 when Van der Flier identified an opportunity at a ruck and readied himself to seize possession, only to be unjustly ousted by England’s number eight, Ben Earl.
This decisive move to secure the penalty impeded a hopeful English offence. However, the relief was brief as England gained increasing control of the ball. Ireland’s wavering performance was a cause for worry. [England 23 Ireland 22: English commenters rejoice following ‘one of the greatest matches witness by Twickenham’]
In the midst of chaos, Van der Flier excelled, demonstrating not only the tangible effects of his actions but also his ability to rally his team; significant moments in the game were also seen from Tadhg Beirne and Bundee Aki. Van der Flier’s increasingly regular interventions, including his solid tackle on Tommy Freeman, became critical for Ireland’s openside flanker.
Three years prior, when his position was under threat from Will Connors at both Leinster and Ireland, Van der Flier was tasked with improving his ball carrying ability. Two coaches at the time laid out a pathway for his development as a player. Reflecting on Farrell’s advice, Van der Flier remembers being told to have a more prominent role in games. Previously, he was content simply working hard behind the scenes, tackling opponents, and rucking.
Stuart Lancaster from Leinster also had a piece of wisdom which Van der Flier has shared. Prior to that, he was content to let the top ball-carriers in the team take over. However, he reached a point where he felt compelled to take charge if the situation required him to do so. This was a crucial aspect in his personal development and allowed him to achieve a level of play that earned him the 2022 World Player of the Year recognition. His abilities were on full display during the game at Twickenham – his agility under pressure enabled him to circumnavigate multiple tackle attempts.
He has also evolved to become a distributor from lineout set pieces, as exhibited when he caught the ball from the top and swiftly passed it to Jamison Gibson-Park, who was playing as first receiver. The scrumhalf then connected with Bundee Aki allowing the centre to penetrate the defence and make headway into the English 22. At 23 minutes, Van der Flier was successful in blocking George Ford’s attempted drop goal and two minutes later, he was the sole pursuer of a James Lowe clearance.
George Furbank of England found himself with ample room and time at fullback, but was quickly deprived of both by the quick-thinking Irish openside who pulled off a superb tackle as Furbank attempted to swerve past. The impressive collaboration of this player with Robbie Henshaw efficiently prevented Henry Slade from moving forward, culminating in a turnover. In a later move, acting as a supportive wing for Jack Crowley, Van der Flier successfully grounded Ollie Lawrence who had been trying to evade the outhalf.
In less than two minutes following the game’s recommencement, with England once again within the Irish 22, Van der Flier smartly compelled Lawrence to concede a penalty at a ruck while he skillfully hovered over the ball. His final contributions to the game were a series of three tackles that made Earl’s try possible.
He was swapped at 60-minutes with Jack Conan. Despite the overall loss, Van der Flier sought no solace in his personal applaudable performance. However, once he has a chance to evaluate the match, he should realise that he genuinely delivered on his promise of standing out in a major game.