Published:
Sat 5 Oct 2024, 2:50 PM
Last updated:
Sat 5 Oct 2024, 3:08 PM
Michael Bolton
Leinster and Ireland flanker Josh Van Der Flier got his season underway last Friday when he came on for Leinster in their win over the Dragons.
The break was welcome for Van der Flier, who had some time off after a long 2023/2024 season.
Having started preparations for the seasons in July last year for the World Cup, the season ended a year later with a win in South Africa.
While it had its ups and downs, both for province and country, the former world player of the year appreciated how he was managed through the season.
“It was tough. One thing that helped was after the World Cup we had three weeks off. In fairness to the IRFU and Leinster, they are very good at giving us breaks at those sport of times.
“Physically, I felt great all year. One of the things I found tricky last year is you get real fit for the World Cup, and then you have three weeks off, so you are starting again fitness wise.
“One thing that is hard about rugby, and I do get jealous of football players and golfers at times, if you are going to play a sport like that, you get yourself pumped up, but you are not going in having to be physical and violent with people.
“You have to get yourself to a certain mental state before a rugby game, which takes a lot out of you.”
It is almost exactly a year since Ireland suffered further heartbreak at the World Cup, as they exited the quarter-finals to New Zealand.
In a defeat that was emotional for the team and players, it was just the start of a long season ahead.
With so much rugby ahead, it is important to enjoy life off the pitch, as Van Der Flier praised his wife for helping him switch off when needed.
“Before I met her, there was six of us living together, and we were all obsessed with rugby. If it was a day off, we would be outside throwing a rugby ball around.
“After the World Cup it was very difficult. We went away and did tourist things every day to be as busy as possible, because if I was standing still I was playing all the games back through my head. Anytime you lose in a big tournament, you play it through.
“That was a hard one to switch off from. I watched the final, and once the final was over, I was able to switch off because the World Cup was over for everyone.”
The big guns for Leinster will return to action this weekend as they travel to Italy to face Benetton on Saturday.
It has been a run of seasons of heartbreak for Leinster, who have lost three Champions Cup finals in a row, while have yet to win this format of the URC.
Van Der Flier admitted defeats made the squad realise the small margins between victory and defeat when it comes to silverware.
“One thing we have certainly learned is how close it is and the narrow margins you can look back on at the end of a campaign, that if you win you don’t tend to notice them as much, but you certainly do if you lose.
“One thing that sticks out with me is we probably played better at the end of the game in the European final than in the last test against South Africa.
“We are very hungry and excited for the year ahead, and there is no reason we can’t give it another big shot this year.”
Published:
Sat 5 Oct 2024, 2:50 PM
Last updated:
Sat 5 Oct 2024, 3:08 PM
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