Leinster Star Josh Van Der Flier Previews La Rochelle Quarterfinal Clash
Leinster Star Josh Van Der Flier Previews La Rochelle Quarterfinal Clash
Leinster star Josh van der Flier discusses his team's upcoming Investec Champions Cup quarterfinal match with La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Four-time Investec Champions Cup winner Leinster Rugby will take on back-to-back defending champion La Rochelle in the latest instalment of the competitionโs fiercest rivalry of the past five years.
Downing its Irish rival in the past two finals, as well as in a semifinal in the 2020-2021 season, La Rochelle has become the Dubliners boogeyman.
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Breaking this pattern earlier this season, Leinster downed its rival on the road during the pool stages in what will be a major confidence boost ahead of this weekendโs quarterfinal.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, former World Player Of The Year Josh van der Flier said that despite playing well every season, a mindset change was needed for the knockout stages.
"Weโve played very well for a few years now, and there hasnโt been the success in Europe that every team wants," the 30-year-old backrow said. "One thing weโve talked about, I suppose itโs obvious enough, knockout rugby is not like a league where whoever plays the best, and wins the most games, gets the most points is just the winner overall.
"Youโve got to earn it through knockout. No one goes in with the trophy in their grasp and then loses it. You have to go and attack it.
"You start the knockouts with the same chance that everyone else has, so no matter how you play leading into it or what form you have, you still have to go and earn it.
"I donโt think thereโs any sort of panic or feeling itโs now or never, we just take each challenge as it comes and itโs certainly a big challenge this week and thatโs the mindset.
"Weโve got a lot of respect for La Rochelle, they are a brilliant side, really well-coached with really good individual players, so itโs hard to say whether they are our biggest rivals or not.
"We know it will be a big challenge. Weโll have to be at our best."
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