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30th May 2022
10:02pm BST
Josh van der Flier, Ireland, runs onto the pitch ahead of a 2016 Six Nations game, to make his Test debut. (Credit: Brendan Moran/SPORTSFILE)[/caption]
"Ah, he's brilliant. He has really taken his game up a notch. I was listening to, and reading, some interviews with him, this week. He said he doesn't have any magic ingredient. He's just taking this year in, when everything has changed for him. He's probably more mature. He's carrying the ball a bit more, which is really enhancing the game, and getting him involved a bit more.
"Traditionally, he also mentioned that he was determining his performance on the amount of turnovers he got, as a traditional No.7. the game has changed so much, now, and it is harder for one man to get them all now. It has been spread out more. That has problem taken a bit of pressure off him, and he has been sensational, and the consistency levels of his performances has been incredibly impressive."If there was a Lions team being picked at the moment, you'd be pencilling him in as a starter. He's learned a lot, matured, and seems to be enjoying his rugby. That has had a massive impact in everything he's doing in the game."
Rob Kearney with Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier, in 2016. (Credit: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE)[/caption]
"Historically, you would have seen that award go to someone on the winning team. The only exception was Nakarawa, in 2018. You could argue that Gregory Alldritt was hard done by, considering the impact he has had for La Rochelle, particularly at the weekend. But, you have to remember, the award is for someone that has been outstanding in the whole competition, and Josh thoroughly deserves it. It's an enormous honour, to be crowned the best player in Europe.
"He had some difficult moments over the last couple of years, with missing out on selections and Will Connors getting in ahead of him in the [2021] six Nations. He was on the outside, a little bit. But he has worked hard and been rewarded. I love to see that resilience in players, to come back, and come back even better and stronger than they've ever been. It's a huge achievement for Josh."
"I've been singing Josh van der Flier's praises for the past two seasons, now. Most improved player.
"I probably had my doubts about him, I'm not going to lie, when he first came on the scene and when he was making his Irish debut. I thought he was a little lightweight, when he was carrying the ball. I know everyone has been asking, 'Where did this come from?' as it seemed he had changed his game overnight. It may have felt that way but over three, six months, he just turned everything around.
"He's a phenomenal athlete, huge engine, never takes a backwards step. I really have a lot of respect for the guy and think he's an incredible rugby player. Met him on a number of occasions, and a really nice bloke too. I think it's thoroughly deserved."
"I think this guy is one of the best players in the world, at the minute, in his position.
"His carrying has improved. He was always a tackling machine - a real chop focus - didn't do too much damage at the breakdown, and his carrying was limited. What he's added to his game in the last couple of years is a real change-up to his carry - how hard he is running into holes, running into people, when he has to."And then, breakdown-wise and the tackle area, how solid he is there. He is making impact shots now. He's not just getting people on the ground, he's staying in the tackle and buying Leinster time to get their defensive line set." The EPCR judging panel, this season, was: Alan Quinlan (Virgin Media), Erik Bonneval, Dimitri Yachvili (both CANAL+), Lee McKenzie and Bryan Habana (both Channel 4) https://twitter.com/ChampionsCup/status/1530912103711784961
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