Van der Flier: Back row group 'kind of bounce off each other'

If selected to face England on Saturday, Josh van der Flier will be making his first appearance of the summer, having watched from the stands as fellow Grand Slam-winning back-rower Caelan Doris put in a try-scoring, man of the match performance in the August 7 victory over Italy playing in his specialised position.

COMPETITION: Josh van der Flier on the competition between the back row group and how they help each other. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Josh van der Flier has paid tribute to the leadership, humility and “incredible tries” delivered by Ireland team-mate Keith Earls ahead of the veteran winger’s 100th Test cap this Saturday.

Earls, 35, will become Ireland’s ninth Test rugby centurion when he faces England at Aviva Stadium in the second of three Summer Series warm-up games and last one on home soil before the 2023 World Cup gets underway in France next month.