Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'There's a little prop family going around world rugby, you recognise each other's weirdness'

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

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. 

ADVERTISEMENT

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. 

Video Spacer

Jamie Roberts and Simon Zebo star on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Jamie Roberts and Simon Zebo star on the latest RugbyPass Offload

      “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 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.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      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.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “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.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

      Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Solenn Bonnet 9 days ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

      My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

      CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

      EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      WhatsApp.. +15617263697

      website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      Telegram.. +15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Schalk Burger's preferred position for Henry Pollock may not go down well Burger's preferred position for Pollock may not go down well
      Search