Fuelled by Croker pain, van der Flier savours setting things straight at Thomond

The always affable back row never reached for the word sweet after helping Leinster defeat Munster on Saturday night but that's certainly how it felt 

BLUE WAVE: Josh van der Flier of Leinster, third from left, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's first try during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in Limerick. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Josh van der Flier is the least offensive man you could meet off the field. He does not do trash talk, or make cheques with his mouth that need cashing with his hands or feet. But even he had to concede that Leinster’s win in Limerick on Saturday was particularly sweet.

Not that he even used the word ‘sweet’, mind. That’s ours, but it gives a sense of it.

“It’s always a huge game, even for me. Anyone growing up supporting Leinster, which I did, the Munster game was always one you really looked forward to watching and it probably brings the passion out more than most games," said the Ireland veteran after Saturday night's victory in Limerick. 

“The context of the game as well, having lost last time we played against them. We were well pumped up for the game and ready for a fast start. It definitely fuelled the lads here being up against it with the crowd that was really loud.

“We spoke about building our own energy because you get energy from the crowd at home but not when you’re away as much. It was great to score so early and get points on the board so it was all positive.” 

That comprehensive loss to Munster in Croke Park in October did not sit well with Leinster. Ronan Kelleher spoke last week of the notes taken when Munster celebrated so gleefully after the final whistle. The Ireland hooker used the word mugged when describing the loss.

Leinster were far from easy on the eye in Thomond Park in this latest URC interpro but they were damned effective, van der Flier’s seventh-minute try from a lineout maul giving them the early jumpstart and a foundation on which to work for the evening.

Two massive defensive sets in the second-half, the latter one on the brink of full-time, completed the job. Revenge for Croker? Atonement? Again, van der Flier wasn’t going to go all Billy Big Boy on it, but… “I’m not sure. It hurts. You’re proud to play for Leinster and try to give it your all every week. Every loss we take hard but particularly that game, there is no shortage of motivation. I remember myself it probably wasn’t my best performance.

“There was a lot of things I didn’t do very well. I’m sure there was a lot of the lads felt the same and you want to put it right. The week after that game and since, you try to say to yourself that you won’t let that happen again.

“That was my mindset coming in and I’m sure some of the lads were similar.”
Leo Cullen was making no bones about the priorities. Leinster’s no-frills approach isn’t winning any converts over right now but the head coach wasn’t in Limerick to win friends and influence people. He got what he came for.

“This time of year it's picking up wins, isn't it? That's the most pleasing part, is four points," Cullen said. "But listen, there's lots of great effort. I thought it was amazing. Just to piggyback on what Josh was saying, it's an amazing occasion in terms of the atmosphere.

“It's full on, isn't it? It's a proper cauldron out there, I presume, to play in. It was a cauldron even for the coaches where we were sitting. But it's special, isn't it? It's a special occasion. It's great to be part of.

“But listen, what's the most important bit is to win and just get out of here and get on with the road, recovering and turn to the next challenge which is obviously Connacht now on Saturday.”