'I've never played them' - Van der Flier desperate for a first shot at the Boks

The awards continue to pile up in the cabinet for Josh van der Flier, but avoiding complacency shouldn't be an issue for the 29-year-old.

For a start, it wasn't long ago that the flanker was struggling to get a look-in at international level, falling behind Will Connors in the depth chart in the Irish seven shirt.

Connors' injury problems opened the door for his Leinster teammate midway through 2021, and Van der Flier's brought his game on to a new level since.

His latest award, Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year, comes in addition to the Rugby Players Ireland and Leinster team prizes he won earlier this year, as well as the EPCR European Player of the Year award for his form in the Champions Cup.

But with such a healthy back row depth for head coach Andy Farrell, Van der Flier knows it would be foolish to sit back and admire his wares.

There are also new challenges to focus on. With injury having deprived him of a place on Ireland's 2016 tour of South Africa, as well as the Springboks' visit to Dublin in 2017, a first meeting with the world champions looms next week, for what would be his 44th international cap.

"World champions, they've been the team to beat the last few years," he says of the Springboks.

"I've never played them, I missed out on a few games through injury so it's a game I'm very keen for that.

"Even playing against the provincial South African teams, the bigger men than we're used to and that brand of rugby - it's very exciting."

While he's started each of Ireland's last 12 games dating back to the summer of 2021, an ankle injury picked up against Connacht means the openside's place in the team isn't 100% secure just yet.

But he remains confident he'll come through his recovery in time to