Jack van Poortvliet says he returns to Dublin with a “thicker skin” for his rollercoaster debut Six Nations ride.
Three weeks ago he was on the wrong end of Ireland’s Grand Slam triumph at the Aviva Stadium. Today, the England scrum-half faces 10 of that starting team again in the Champions Cup.
Like Ireland before them Leinster are odds-on favourites, not only to beat Leicester, the Premiership champions, but to land a record-equalling fifth title.
Tigers boss Richard Wigglesworth described them as a “juggernaut” and said: “It doesn’t matter who plays for them, they always win.”
The Irish province, coached by Leo Cullen and former England boss Stuart Lancaster, are unlikely to fall for that flattery but the fact remains Wigglesworth’s assessment, more often than not, rings true.
Into this quarter-final cauldron steps Van Poortvliet who, in his first year of international rugby, has been cast both as a hero and a villain in the spluttering national team.
“In the short time I've been with England I've experienced a lot of highs and lows,” he said. “I’ve had the experience of people calling for you to be playing and now the experience of people not wanting you starting.”
Criticism on social media led England team mate Alex Dombrandt to delete his Twitter account after the record home loss to France in which Van Poortvliet was also singled out.
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t see it in bits and you try to avoid looking at it,” added the Norwich-born star. “But it's hard when someone is sending it to you and you have friends and family picking up on it and talking about it.
“You have to make sure you are listening to the right people and don’t let social media determine what you think about your or the team’s performance.”
The 21-year old scored a try against Australia within a minute of coming on for his Test debut and marked his first Twickenham appearance with another, this time 29 seconds after taking to the field.
Eddie Jones responded to the clamour for him to start during his last month in charge, but England have won only three of eight since and the youngster felt the flak when France took them apart at Twickenham.
He bounced back well against Ireland and now, as he prepares to line up again at the Aviva, reckons his baptism of fire could be the making of him.
“In a weird way I think I've been lucky to experience a lot of different scenarios so early,” he said. “It’s something I've learned a huge amount from.
“I've maybe [got] a thicker skin - experienced a broader scope of results, feelings and emotions, and how to deal with it all."
