Family work ethic paying off for the impressive van der Flier

The 28-year-old is a lynchpin in a balanced trio that also boasts Caelan Doris and Jack Conan

Josh van der Flier: 'Hopefully we can create some new memories in this Six Nations.' Picture: Inpho/Ryan Bailey

Dirk van der Flier never played for Leinster or Ireland. He did turn out for the province’s U21s and Wicklow RFC and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree when it came to his boy Josh.

The old man played in an environment where gatherings in the bar were as integral to the experience as rucks on the field but Dirk had the habit of abstaining from the beers so he might have the edge on the others in training.