Practice makes perfect for Van der Flier at the lineout

There's always a plan, even if it's a rough one.

Test rugby is always attritional, but Saturday's 22-7 win against Scotland saw Ireland deal with almost unprecedented levels of injury withdrawals.

By half-time Caelan Doris, Dan Sheehan and Iain Henderson had all been forced off, while Sheehan's replacement Rónan Kelleher only had a few minutes left in him, struggling with a shoulder issue that ended his game shortly after the break.

Cian Healy could be seen practicing his throws on the sideline late in the first half, and while he ultimately would come on to pack down at hooker in the scrums, it was Josh van der Flier who was trusted with throwing the darts in the second half.

Thankfully, the flanker had been waiting for the day to come, admitting he's always worked on his throwing on the off chance it was ever needed.

"When I was in the academy I used to get given out to for messing about in the gym, doing hooker throws," Van der Flier says of his lineout throwing.

"But it's something we've talked about and practiced the odd time because a hooker can get yellow carded, or rarely now that you get two injuries like that, but it's something we talk about and we have a rough plan if it happens."

With Healy scrummaging at hooker and Van der Flier throwing into the lineout, it was worrying times for Ireland, but both players nailed their unfamiliar responsibilities.

Van der Flier's throwing wasn't quite 100%, and while he had two misses late in the game, the result had long since been sewn up by that stage. When the game was in the balance he was finding the target.

"I've played seven for, it must be 15 years since playing in school, and that's never actually happened.

"There have been times where I've been close to throwing so no