Van der Flier returns to make his mark after La Rochelle omission

Rightly or wrongly, the selection of Connors two weekends ago was seen as evidence of Jacques Nienaber’s influence.

BACK TO BEST: Leinster’s Josh van der Flier makes a break to set up his sides second try. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

It’s not often a former world player of the year gets dropped so there were always going to be extra eyes on Josh van der Flier last Saturday given the openside had been relegated to the bench for Leinster’s Champions Cup visit to La Rochelle.

The choice of Will Connors had come from left field, not least because Scott Penny appeared to be ahead of him in the queue on the evidence of the season up to that point, but it worked a treat thanks to his talent for chop tackles and their effect in negating the French ball carriers.