Joe Schmidt on Josh van der Flier’s selection in the Ireland team to face England in the 6 Nations.

Joe Schmidt commended Josh van der Flier’s performances throughout the season and his application in training when explaining why the 22-year-old had been selected to start for Ireland against England in Twickenham this weekend.

Van der Flier has made 14 appearances for Leinster so far this season, his first out of the Leinster Academy, adding to the six caps he claimed in the 2014/15 campaign.

The young flanker made a try-scoring Champions Cup debut against Bath back in November and started Leinster’s back-to-back games against European champions Toulon in December.

Speaking at the announcement of the Ireland team in Carton House, Joe Schmidt said: “Josh van der Flier has been a guy who’s really impressed right through the season. His application in training, in the environment, has been first-rate, and he’s rewarded with an opportunity and a huge responsibility to go out and capture that seven jersey in what will be a really tough test for him.”