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.
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