Josh van der Flier 'honoured' to be part of second World Cup

EXCITED: Josh van der Flier says he feels the same excitement he felt watching the World Cup as a kid. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan

It does not matter that Josh van der Flier is the World Rugby Player of the Year, the excitement the Ireland flanker feels on the eve of a World Cup is exactly the same as he felt watching the tournament as a kid.

Saturday could see van der Flier, 30, get his second World Cup underway if Andy Farrell meets expectations and selects his strongest available side for the opening pool game against Romania in Bordeaux. Yet he speaks of childhood memories in front of the box with the same reverence as his recall of a tournament debut in Japan four years ago.