Ireland kickstarted their campaign to claim an unprecedented third successive Six Nations with a definitive 27-22 win over England last Saturday.
While as a stand-alone tournament, the Six Nations is one of the greatest in rugby, the added jeopardy of upcoming Lions selection is only adding to the excitement week in, week out.
Saturday's defeat of England which came under the watchful eye of Andy Farrell will undoubtedly have boded well for more than a few Irish player's chances, especially as they found comprehensive answers to questions that were asked of them in November.
The likes of Jamison Gibson-Park and Caelan Doris now feel like surefire selections for Australia, and Dan Sheehan, James Lowe and Jack Conan were among several players to deliver performances worthy of donning the famous shirt.
However, for one of the country's most consistent performers, Josh van der Flier, round one of the Six Nations has only laid bare just how tricky it will be to book a spot on the plane.
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1 February 2025; Josh van der Flier of Ireland before the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Bernard Jackman explains how tall a task lays ahead of Josh van der Flier
Van der Flier was by no accounts poor on Saturday. In fact, for a long time the Leinster open side has been one of Ireland's best and most consistent performers and remains that today, making himself one of the first names on every Ireland team sheet.
However, like in Ireland, competition for seven jerseys on the Lions Tour will be fierce, and last weekend's opening round of rugby on the continent only proved how tall a task it will be to get on the plane. As it stands, Van der Flier, Tom Curry, Rory Darge, and Jac Morgan are all in contention for the spot, with very little separating their quality or ability.
Speaking about the competition Josh van der Flier will face on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast, Bernard Jackman called the situation 'crazy' and didn't shy away from just how stern a task lay ahead of him.
You've Sam Underhill as well who's injured, who on his day can be top class.
It's crazy, I wonder how many he'll bring, will he (Andy Farrell) just bring one and then bring Doris that's played seven.
Two (opensides) max will go of that bunch. In any other Lions year, they could all be Test Lions, that's how good it is.
The openside position was under threat for a while, when everyone was concerned about having a back five that could all be lineout options, but the current trend is that you need a tear away.
The ability of many other backrows to slot into the openside flanker position only makes the task more difficult. On a tour where versatility and adaptability can be as important as quality, Van der Flier will certainly have his work cut out for him.
Having been one of Ireland's top performers for much of the country's recent glory days, it would be bitterly disappointing not to see him doing his thing Down Under later this year , but there is few positions as fiercely contested and as Jackman touched on, unfortunately not everyone can go.
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