During this lull, Josh found joy in watching the "Greatest Rivalry" series from a distance, embracing the games as a leisurely spectator rather than a participant. His laid-back holiday attitude allowed him to enjoy the tournament without the usual pressures of competition.
"I watched a few bits and pieces but not a huge amount, not too in-depth. They’re good Test matches to be honest; it’s pretty competitive and it’s nice to see. I have been enjoying watching Jordie (Barrett) and Rieko (Ioane) playing. Having been in Leinster with them, you kind of know how they think and stuff. It’s good to watch. It’s nice to watch as a neutral and be able to enjoy the game. It’s been good."
Last Saturday’s match tipped the balance with the Springboks moving ahead 2-1 in the series. This places more anticipation on the upcoming finale in the United States, a novel location for such a decisive game.
However, not all recent outings have been as enjoyable for Ireland. A challenging season saw them underperform in key matches, including a significant defeat in Auckland. This series of less-than-stellar performances sparked discussions about Ireland’s current form and world ranking, suggesting a disconnect from their past strengths.
In response to the critiques, Van der Flier expressed a focus on looking forward rather than dwelling on the negative commentary. He highlighted the importance of continual improvement—a sentiment echoed by coach Andy Farrell.
"I honestly haven’t seen much of it in terms of (negative) talk, but in terms of how we feel about it, I suppose even just looking back at the last three games, the start of the Nations series, we probably didn’t play our best against Australia, managed to get a win, a good win against Japan, who played really well, and then we were pretty disappointed against New Zealand. So I suppose as far as we are concerned that is what I’d be focusing on. I haven’t seen much of the chat around it, but it’s definitely something that Andy always talks to us about is trying to improve every campaign. It’s probably not something we have done consistently enough, but I am sure we will be looking to improve and hopefully we will be better in November and start to build a bit of momentum."
As the seasons change, Van der Flier is gearing up for the upcoming international fixtures, starting with Argentina in Dublin. The plan is to use this time effectively, building on past successes and addressing areas of weakness.
Off the field, Van der Flier takes a break from rugby to recharge. Golfing, vacationing in France, and moving house all serve as distractions that allow him to rejuvenate before the demanding schedule resumes.
Finally, as rugby gears up again, Van der Flier is determined to hone his skills during the preseason. From enhancing his ball-carrying to refining ruck techniques, he is committed to entering the new season in top form, ready to make an impact in the Rugby World Cup 2027 outlook.
The newly released Canterbury Ireland 2026/27 home kit is now available, marking another season of rugby action and fashion ready to unfold.
