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Ireland flanker Van der Flier out for the season
By Christopher Devine
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has confirmed Josh van der Flier will be sidelined for the rest of the 2017-18 season after suffering a serious knee ligament injury in his country's Six Nations victory over France.
Van der Flier was hurt late in the first half of Saturday's match at the Stade de France, with Ireland coach Joe Schmidt subsequently stating he feared a long-term lay-off was likely for the flanker.
On Monday, an IRFU statement confirmed the 24-year-old had been ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
The news comes as a blow to Ireland and Van der Flier's club Leinster, who are bidding for glory on two fronts domestically in the Pro14 and European Champions Cup.
Leinster face a Champions Cup quarter-final with reigning champions Saracens on April 1, but will now have to make do without one of their star performers.
Ireland snatched victory in Paris courtesy of a last-gasp drop goal from Jonathan Sexton and will be expected to make it two wins out of two in the Six Nations when they welcome Italy to Dublin on Saturday.
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Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
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