There is plenty to make Josh van der Flier stand out from the crowd. The Dutch surname, last month’s man-of-the-match award against Cardiff Blues and the red scrumcap he has worn since his schooldays.
When it comes to matching accessories, anything with a crimson hue in the Leinster dressing room must have drawn some comments that were less than flattering, but if Munster can tog out every day in blue training jerseys then perhaps the tribalism of Irish rugby has begun to mellow.
Three starts this season added to his six appearances last year mean Van der Flier, the Leinster openside flanker, has begun his ascent into the senior ranks and regardless of the Test class talent at the province he will be expected to compete with them.
The 21-year-old’s former coaches have quietly touted him to make it as a top professional and what could set him apart from the competition is his old-school poaching skills.
As for his choice of headgear, Van der Flier, a Dubliner of Dutch grandparents, explained it began because of his school pride. “I started wearing it in school because it matched the Wesley College jersey, then people wouldn’t know who I was but that I played in the red scrum cap, so I just always kept it then,” Van der Flier said.
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Towards the end of his schooldays he was known as the guy in the red scrum cap “you have to take a look at”. From there he was signed to the Leinster academy and won 11 caps for Ireland’s Under-20s while also performing for University College Dublin in the Ulster Bank League.
At each level he came across coaches eager to help him add to his natural ability and athleticism. At the Leinster academy there was Girvan Demspey, now the backs coach for the senior team, with Ireland Under-20s he had Mike Ruddock, the former Wales Grand Slam-winning coach, and at UCD Bobby Byrne helped expose him to senior rugby at club level.
Clearly the decision-makers at Leinster had seen enough from his progression through the academy and in his performances for the A team to award him senior terms for this season and beyond.
Already Van der Flier has brought his all-action style to the PRO12 with week-in, week-out consistency whether he has been digging for turnovers or putting pace on the ball with his carries in the No 7 jersey. Even though Ireland internationals like Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien are due back at the province soon, he doesn’t feel out of place.
“Yes, I’m happy with how I’m playing and the confidence that comes with it. I feel a lot more comfortable at the PRO12 level, it’s still very tough but I’m finding my form,” Van der Flier said.
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With any step up in playing grade, physicality and speed are the two factors duelling for attention, but at 6ft 1in and a shade under 16 stone he is coping well with his raw materials.
“It’s really tough dealing with the challenge around the breakdown. If you’re going in for a poach they hit you much harder when they’re clearing you out, also the other way around if you have to clear someone out of the breakdown they’re bigger, stronger lads so that’s the biggest thing I’ve noticed,” Van der Flier said.
The traditional role of the openside demands the player to link play between the forwards and the backs, but Van der Flier explains that can be as basic as just passing along messages or adjustments between either unit.
“Communication is important when it comes to talking to the rest of the players because seven is a position where you need a lot of conversation with other players whether it’s at the back of the lineout dealing with the forwards or talking to the out-half,” Van der Flier said.
“I’m also trying to improve on how I work within the system, especially in defence where we’ve changed a few things and that’s probably the biggest area for me to improve on.”
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Van der Flier and a few other Leinster youngsters get one of their final chances to impress against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Friday night before the Test stars are reintegrated back into the first-team squad.
Glasgow, the PRO12 champions, may already have some of their Scottish internationals back in harness and the stakes will rise for the man in the scarlet hat.
“I’d want to be playing well to wear it,” Van der Flier agreed. “I’m told it makes it easier for refs to identify me so that’s the bad side of it.”