Van der Flier relieved Ireland can now switch to the night shift

After the Saturday afternoon sun against Romania, Ireland's remaining pool matches will be played at night

CAP'S OFF: Josh van der Flier of Ireland after his side's victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Romania at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Josh van der Flier is looking forward to night rugby for the rest of Ireland’s World Cup pool campaign after a gruelling afternoon under the sun against Romania.

The Irish squad has begun preparations for this Saturday’s Pool B clash with Tonga, set for a 9pm (8pm Irish time) kick-off at Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire. With temperatures set to cool across France this week it looks like being a lot more temperate this weekend than for last Saturday’s opening game for Ireland, when they kicked off their 82-8 victory over the Romanians in 36C heat.

That Ireland kept their foot on the accelerator for 80-plus minutes — coring their 12th and final try with the clock in the red was all the more impressive given the conditions — but van der Flier, a second-half replacement, is relieved it will be an experience that should not be repeated at this World Cup.

The rest of Ireland’s Pool B campaign matches, with South Africa following Tonga in Paris on September 23 and concluding against Scotland on October 7, will kick off at 9pm and after initial doubts, the 2022 World Player of the Year is not complaining anymore.

“I was thinking before the tournament that nine is so late, it’s a really long day, but then when I saw the weather in the captain’s run, I said I’d happily play at midnight if it’s a bit cooler,” van der Flier said.

“It should make a big difference. Even in the first half (against Romania), most of the pitch was in the sun, second half you were in the sun and it almost felt like a break when you got into the other half of the field where it was a bit shaded.

“So it will definitely make a big difference. A lot of credit has to go to the lads who played 80 minutes out there, they worked really hard. I had 20 minutes and after 15 minutes of my 20 minutes, I was nearly ready to get subbed off again. It was tough.” 

The openside flanker was grateful for the two weeks of warm-weather training Ireland had undertaken on the Algarve and in southwestern France last month but he still felt the need to jettison his familiar red scrum cap for his 24 minutes off the bench at Stade de Bordeaux.

“We trained in Portugal, we trained in Biarritz, so we definitely have trained and had tough sessions in the heat. That paid off.

“I tried wearing it in training in Portugal and I really, really struggled. It’s just an extra bit of heat and it makes a big difference when you take it off. I did notice that it just feels different not having a scrum cap on but definitely glad not to have it in this heat.” 

Van der Flier also praised Ireland’s strength and conditioning coaches led by Jason Cowman for their work in pre-season that was evident by their 80-minute effort against Romania.

“Jayo has been brilliant and Ciaran Ruddock as well. The pair of them run a great regime. I think pretty much everyone in the squad is in the best shape they’ve ever been nearly, or certainly close to it. Everyone’s feeling very fit as well.

“We feel really good. To keep playing like that until the end, I thought we kept improving or certainly stayed at the same level throughout the game. It didn’t tail off which can happen in those kinds of games. I thought it was very pleasing.”