'There's a little prop family going around world rugby, you recognise each other's weirdness'
Ireland tighthead Tadhg Furlong has revealed that the revelation his teammate and fellow prop Andrew Porter had to cry off the Lions through injury floored him with shock when he learned about it on social media. It was June 4 when Leinster played a Rainbow Cup match away at Glasgow, a game that Furlong wasn’t selected for so he didn’t travel. Michael Bent was the starting tighthead and he gave way for the introduction of Porter 45 minutes into the action at Scotstoun.
There was no indication on that Friday night that something serious had happened to Porter but it emerged on the following Sunday morning that Kyle Sinckler had been called up to the Lions squad to replace the unfortunate Irishman who had suffered a tour-ruining toe injury.
Having known Porter for years on the Ireland and Leinster scene, this injury revelation hugely took Furlong by surprise. “It’s so tough on Andrew Porter, I only found out on social media,” he admitted.
“I didn’t know. I was absolutely… I was on the floor because I know how hard he works and how diligent he is and how well he has performed all year. I get on well with Kyle and power to him, he had some adversity there and he spoke about it and he is on the rebound now and sport is like that sometimes. I’m looking forward to catching up with him but obviously, he is not here at the minute.”
While Furlong was on the Channel Island of Jersey this past week for the first week of the Lions, Sinckler was involved in the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals with Bristol who were stunningly defeated by Harlequins, freeing him to now link up with the touring squad.
"He has trained fully today"#LionsRugby https://t.co/K8GZjVThiw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 17, 2021
He will be looking to reverse the pecking order that prevailed in 2017 with Furlong starting all three Test matches against the All Blacks and the Englishman making three appearances off the bench. Having been on a Lions tour already, the 28-year-old Irish front-rower who has 49 caps for his country has found it far easier to settle into the tour life this time around. “Four years ago I was 24 and had played very few games of rugby in reality.
“But from just from a game point of view and where I stand and do things, you know a few of the backroom staff already, a few of the players already, you know what to expect. The anxiety is down from what it would be if it was your first tour and you’re looking into the black hole really.”
That black hole was alleviated in 2017 by the antics of Furlong’s touring father, family stories he happily told about him when on media duties in New Zealand. There will be no family in South Africa due to the pandemic restrictions but the prop reckons the bubble can help the Lions to be an even tighter-knit group than before.
“He might be a little bit less stressed watching on TV,” said Furlong about his gas-ticket dad. “My mother and my girlfriend when they are sitting alongside him at a game every time a scrum comes they have to give him a little space because he is doing all the movements with me in the scrum.
“Look, it’s going to be different. I suppose that hasn’t hit home how different it is going to be yet because we are not over there, we’re just in training week. It’s definitely going to be a challenge but there are two sides to everything and the time we get to spend together as a group with minimal distractions really can be a really good positive for us and make really strong relationships within the squad.”
Aside from waiting for Sinckler to arrive, another familiar prop face from 2017 who has yet to muck in is Mako Vunipola due to Saracens playing the second leg of their Championship final this Sunday.
“I’m an admirer of the way Mako plays his rugby, his threat at the line, his footwork at the line, his ball-playing and skills… the skill set he has for a big man is massive. I’m looking to catching up with him,” said Furlong before referencing South African Steven Kitshoff, the prop the Lions tighthead is likely to scrum against if he gets the starting jersey from Gatland.
“There is kind of a little prop family going around world rugby, you kind of recognise each other’s weirdness in the small little ways. You even find yourself gravitating to the props here at the minute. It’s just one of those weird things.”
"When I was in the Six Nations camp later, he came to two sessions and was shaking everyone’s hand and I just avoided him"
– Extraordinary revelation from the Lions' youngest pick since 1959#LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/F8a0avei4p
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 15, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments