Josh not keen to get stuck in a ruck

JOSH VAN DER FLIER’S mantra to avoid a ruck red card is the early bird catches the worm.

The Leinster flanker has sympathy for his Ireland colleague Peter O’mahony, who picked up a three-match ban on Tuesday after he was sent off for a ‘reckless’ hit on Tomas Francis in Sunday’s loss to Wales.

“With tackling, people very much know now to get their head on the right side,” said van der Flier (above). “It’s something that just has to be practiced. There’s a bit more to it than what it might have been in the past where you just fly in and make sure you hit people out of the way.

“A bit of control is definitely needed but also I think the easiest thing is to be there early and you solve everything. That’s what I would aim to do anyway. When

I first came into the professional set-up in Leinster, it has become more of a focus now where you are hitting when you are cleaning out.

“But back then, you were trying to hit as hard as you can, trying to clear.

“If there are people in the way, you want to push the whole lot of them out of the way to clear space for your nine, whereas now you just have to be careful that you are not catching someone’s head or neck

“You definitely have to be more accurate. It will be disappointing not to have him (O’mahony) around but I’m sure there will be people desperate to get their chance as well.”

Of this weekend he added: “France obviously have some world class players, it’ll be tough work for whoever gets to go in the back row. It’s an exciting challenge.”