The scrum-half burst back on the Premiership scene last weekend, crossing the try line in a manner he hopes will remind England head coach Steve Borthwick why he's been touted as Ben Youngs' long-term successor to the No.9 shirt for both club and country.
It's a sharp turnaround for the 22-year-old, who has had to put his tears at Twickenham, and the devastation of missing a first World Cup due to an ankle injury behind him, as he works to get his career back on track.
Van Poortvliet told The Rugby Paper: "I have been trying to do whatever I can to get myself back fit, to be playing and be as sharp as I can. I was out for eight months, which is a long time, and it feels even longer, so at the moment I'm very focused on trying to help Leicester; help us win all the games we've got coming up in the Premiership and in the Champions Cup.
"It's been a bit of a long slog to try and get back, a few different injuries and a few stumbling blocks on the way but it's felt so good to get back out there.
"When you are told you're playing, and building-up to it I've been both nervous and very excited to back out there, off the bench and then to be in that starting XV.
"I've just been itching to start playing rugby again.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 07, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 07, 2024 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.