Will Porter press conference | Harlequins vs Exeter Chiefs

Will Porter met with members of the press to look ahead to Big Summer Kick-Off as Quins take on Exeter Chiefs at Allianz Stadium.

The scrum discussed several topics:

• Returning from injury
• Strength of scrum-half core
• Taking confidence into this weekend
• Aerial battle vs Chiefs
• Honour of playing at the Home of England Rugby 

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Uh well before we talk this week, let's go back to last weekend. First game since the start of January. What was it like to be back?

SPEAKER_02 0:06

It was great. It was a great feeling to be back out there. Um after a a decent amount of time on the sidelines. Um it's always a bit nerve-wracking coming back from maybe a long injury just to test out. You know, mine was a shoulder injury to test out the shoulder is, but um I enjoyed it, couldn't ask for a better game to come back to in the sun in Newcastle and we played well. So no, it was a great one to be back out there.

SPEAKER_04 0:26

Shoulders are always tricky as well, because you need them to tackle, you need them to pass. There's the sort of things you they've got to be right before you can actually get back playing, isn't there?

SPEAKER_02 0:34

No, exactly. They are quite important in the game of rugby. Um, but I think I had it, had it had a great rehab uh with the physios here. Um, so I I believed in in the shoulder and it performed on Saturday, so I was happy with that Sunday even.

SPEAKER_04 0:47

Um I know your injury would have been a disappointment for you, but it obviously gives Lucas a chance. And imagining you watched him start off full of praise and admiration, but was there a point you're like, hang on here a minute, mate? I want to play when I get back, can you not be quite so good?

SPEAKER_02 1:01

Uh I wouldn't I wouldn't say I wouldn't go that far. It's definitely um, you know, it's a team first mentality, and watching Lucas go well as well as the other scrum halves has been um great because I feel like us as a scrum half group at this club are awesome, and obviously we're trying to back each other up because at the end of the day we want a good performance, and whoever that is on the weekend will be them. So hopefully we can support each other during the week, and whoever gets the the chance to go out the weekend to play um gets the honour of doing that. But um no, Lucas has been going really well for us at the moment, so it's enjoyable to watch. Obviously, I'll be training just as hard, but we'll be pushing each other along with the other scrum halves to get better each day and each week, and whoever gets to go out the weekend gets that chance.

SPEAKER_04 1:37

Is that a bit of a weird thing about rugby and the fact that you all work with each other and you try and make each other better, but you always want to get the shirt ahead of him.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

No, you're right, yeah, it definitely is. It's it's that competitive environment, so you compete. I guess that that's how you breed for the for the game at the weekend because you're competing day in, day out almost to get picked for the team to then have the chance to compete again at the weekend. So that's just the environment. But like I said, if you push each other, you become a better player yourself. So I think everyone in the squad understands that. And as soon as you're off the pitch, that changes, but then you're straight back to being mate, so that's just a competitive environment. So straight back into a game at Twickenham this weekend.

SPEAKER_04 2:14

You can't ask for more than that, can you?

SPEAKER_02 2:15

No, I can't really. The big game is obviously a huge thing for Quinn's, and being able to play at Twickenham is uh an unreal experience, so you can't ask for a better game to come back into. Hopefully it's sunny, hopefully it's fast-flowing rugby, and hopefully you play well.

SPEAKER_04 2:28

The club make a big thing of doing these kind of games, which is great for marketing and all that, but it must be brilliant for you as players to be able to play more games at Twickenham. You know, if you're not a regular international player, it's got to be great to be able to walk out on that turf and go, this is my home ground.

SPEAKER_02 2:45

No, it is unbelievable. We're real, real lucky to be able to do that multiple times a year, like you said. Um it's a great experience coming out that tunnel to a to a pretty packed stadium and you know, hearing the crowd get behind us, and we have some of the best crowds in the Prem. So it's an experience that, like you said, not a lot of people get with without playing international rugby. So uh no, we're very honoured to be able to play at Twickenham.

SPEAKER_04 3:07

What's it like as a stadium to play in? Uh you know, obviously it's that big bowl. So are there any little sort of funky little winds that come through? And think obviously with box kicking, what did is there any little nuances that you have to sort of pick up?

SPEAKER_02 3:21

It can be a bit, yeah. If it's a windy day, sorry. If it's a windy day, like you said, like it can turn into a bowl, so it can be swirling winds sometimes. Hopefully it's not the weekend. Then other side, like the pitch, the pitch itself is slightly bigger. Obviously, the fans feel like they're further away, then you have the subspension stuff, so it just feels like a bigger environment. But at the end of the day, when you're on the pitch, to be fair, it feels like most other games, and then every time and again you take a step back and look at the crowd and you realise where you are. But from a playing perspective, not a lot changes.

SPEAKER_04 3:47

Mentioning kicking, you have to kick well against most teams, but Fay Baboso, Brown Bampo, Woodburn, Riddle, um, those guys can cause an awful lot of problems if you don't get that kicking bang on, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 3:59

No, you're 100% right. Yeah, we understand the threats that X to have, and they've got some great players. Um, we also think that we have uh the threats in our back three as well, so we think we've got just as many threats. Um but you're you're right, especially nowadays, kicking games really, really important. And you like you said, if you get the kicking wrong some days it can really open up a game of rugby. Um so we're we're confident our kicking player go into this weekend and won't be able to handle their threats, so we'll see how we go.

SPEAKER_04 4:23

Is the balance between kicking to compete and kicking to contest changing? Because there just seems to be subtle little differences throughout the season.

SPEAKER_02 4:31

Definitely. Ever since the rule change of being able to escort players back, there's definitely been a more uh a bigger contest in the air, which we're seeing more balls then end up on the ground, more scrums, so it's opening up a little bit more. That's probably seen more teams go back to a contestable kicking game as opposed to maybe a longer kicking game in previous seasons. Um, but at the end of the day, I think each team has their own way of looking at it, um, and plans can change week in week out. Like you said, weather dependent, exactly. So I won't give away too much about our plan this weekend, but I think we've got it right.

SPEAKER_04 5:00

Um, you've got three remaining games, Exodus, Saracens, and Saints. You're gonna have a say in how the top four shakes down, aren't you?

SPEAKER_02 5:08

I think that's what we like to. Obviously, we've got our own plans on where we want to get to in the league, but we also understand that we could upset a few of the other lads who are trying to make top four placements. So um obviously we want to win every game, but that does come into it a lot that we want to spore some people's days, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:23

Unfinished top eight obviously means champions cup, and there's there's a massive difference between the champions cup and the challenge cup.

SPEAKER_02 5:29

Exactly, we understand the importance of finishing top eight, that's our first and foremost. And if we can upset some other people's league finish as well on the way, we'll be happy to do that.

SPEAKER_00 5:41

Hello again, Will. Um, just on the uh uh that battle for the top eight, uh you're going to have to take out maybe one or two of these teams at least, aren't you? Probably to get in, given that that I think they've got Newcastle still to come, you'd expect them to win that. But I mean without really being too much into the pictures, it it you're you're gonna have to produce some really good performances in these last three.

SPEAKER_02 6:04

No, you're 100% right. We know the challenge we've got ahead of us, like you said, we've got to come away with some wins against some really good teams. But you know, we've done it in previous seasons. Um, two years ago in this big summer kickoff, we beat Northampton, who are top of the table, you know, last year against Gloucester, who were going really well. So we understand that usually we really pitch up for this game because we understand how important it is for the club and for the fans. So hopefully we can do again this weekend. But you know, we go into every game confident in ourselves that we can pull off the performance, so that won't change going into the last three games.

SPEAKER_00 6:32

I seem to remember you scoring a couple in that game against Saints. Um, what did that feel like at Twickenham to do that?

SPEAKER_02 6:39

No, that was unbelievable. Yeah, coming off the bench and being able to get on the end of a few. Um that was a great day. We played really well that day, and like I said, uh to get one over on Saints who were going unbelievable that season, you know, it was a great feeling. And to do it in front of that crowd at Twickenham, yeah, as a dream come true. So hopefully we can do the same.

SPEAKER_00 6:56

You were actually on fire at that time, but I think it was the same sort of time you uh you uh played so well against Bordeaux Begler as well, knock them out of the uh the Champions Cup. I mean, obviously this season has been disrupted, but uh it must be um you know a real aim to be back in that sort of form again and and obviously be back in that England squad that you got into.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

Yeah, you're right. I mean uh going back to that season, that Bordeaux game, I came back from exactly the same injury on my other shoulder. So, you know, who knows what will happen, but I can take some confidence away from what happened previously, and you know, that doesn't, you know, my form doesn't have to be a thing that you you know trickle back into if I I've worked hard in my rehab process and I need to just need time on pitch, and hopefully it'll come back to that. But I know what I can do off a previous injury and I think I can do it again.

SPEAKER_00 7:41

What are you like as a as a player who's uh out of action? I mean, everyone's a bit different, is it? Uh it's hard for everyone, but what what are you like when you're watching and not involved?

SPEAKER_02 7:50

Um obviously I I I love to support the team. Uh I do find it hard to watch. I think if you ask many injured lads, um it's a tough, it's a tough place to be. But you know, that's the that comes with the job, and plus, you know, that's the motivation to get back onto the pitch. If you if you enjoyed your time in rehab or time off the pitch, then you you probably wouldn't be in professional rugby to be honest. You've got to try and you have to have that need to get back on the pitch. So, no, it is hard to watch, but you know, the end result of being able to go back out there with the lads is that is the reward.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

And there's a going to be a there always is, but there's gonna be a bit of churn at the end of this uh season, the likes of Big Joe leaving, but also uh you know, Nick, who's been there for so long. Um, Gerard, who we're just hearing about, um that will add a bit extra, won't it, to sort of try and uh give these uh these stalwats of the club a good send-off?

SPEAKER_02 8:39

Definitely, definitely. We understand you know what what these games mean for certain people, like you said, might be certain people's last games for the club or coaching for the club. So that definitely we take that emotion into these last few games like we do any season when we know people are leaving. So um we'll try and send them off the best way we can. Um, and and I think we can with the performances we have left in us for these last three games.

SPEAKER_00 9:01

And the competitive juices must be really uh really flowing at the moment because they are three great games to look forward to, aren't they? If you could if you could pick off wins in these against great opponents.

SPEAKER_02 9:12

You're right, it's definitely a great um chance, like we said, to go for top eight, but also you know, could we finish this season on a on a decent high? You know, if we knock over these three teams, what an unbelievable finish that'd be, you know, and give the fans something to smile about, give us a bit of momentum going into the new season and something to build on. Do you know what I mean? So um, yes, it's a great challenge, but it's also a great opportunity to come away with you know some great wins and some memories, really.

SPEAKER_00 9:39

Well, enjoy the uh big summer kickoff again. Thanks a lot.

SPEAKER_02 9:42

Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 9:45

Oh, well, just a quick uh couple for me. Um when you when you injured your shoulder the most recent time, did you think oh no, not again, or did the fact that you've done it before give you a bit of reassurance that you could get back?

SPEAKER_02 9:57

Um when I immediately did it, I was I was oh no, I knew exactly what this felt like before, so I knew straight away um what what the rehab would probably look like. So the initial thoughts weren't great because I it is just a longer injury, it's just you've got to let time to heal. But like you said, I knew what was ahead of me in terms of rehab and and I could take confidence about how I got back from my last shot, I got back really quick. So I I was I used that to kind of motivate myself not to spend any you know waste any days feeling down on myself too much. So um it was in a weird way it was quite quite nice to know what I had ahead of me, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:31

And when when you're injured at a club like Harlequins, I mean how how do they treat you? I mean, I assume certain clubs do it differently, some would have you been in team meetings, things like that.

SPEAKER_02 10:41

Yeah, yeah, 100%. Yeah, they try and keep you in the loop as much as possible so that when you do get back, you know, you're not you're not having to catch up. So um they schedule things correctly so that we can spend as much time with the team as you can, and that's the important thing. That's what gets a lot of the rehabbers when you spend you know a lot of the time by yourself, whether it be in the gym or um in the physio room that doesn't align with the rest of the squad, then you can feel a bit out of the loop. But if you can spend as much time with the team and the coaches as possible, then I I think the the time like flies by a little bit and you can stay really involved in the rugby side of it, which helps.

SPEAKER_03 11:13

Right, not a great watcher then.

SPEAKER_02 11:15

Not a great watcher.

SPEAKER_01 11:17

Thanks, Lord. Right there, just a quick one from me. Um, obviously, you you know just come back from injury and things like that. How important are these last three games for you in terms of finishing the season strongly, hopefully with the wins that take you into the top eight, but personally to finish the season strongly, obviously ahead of uh the next campaign?

SPEAKER_02 11:38

Um yeah, it's really important. Uh like I was just saying about my rehab, I I always had I thought I had like four or five games left in me, so I really want to get some time on pitch to get to get the ball rolling again and test out my shoulder before the season ends, otherwise, it's a long old time before you play rugby again. Um and I think, like we said, these are some great challenges coming up to really test the team as a whole and also myself as an individual. So um I'm really looking forward to them. I think we can pull off some really good performances and some great wins, which will hopefully end the season on a high.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

And you know, what's it like having sort of full confidence back in your shoulders again? Because you know, coming back from any injury, you know, you hear of people saying that you know it takes a bit of time to to trust that, you know, whatever body part it is that's come back. You know, what how how pleasing is it now that you can fully trust your body 100% again?

SPEAKER_02 12:26

No, it's really pleasing, yeah. I mean, you never truly know till you're on that pitch and someone runs into it, so you always have that back in your mind, at the back of your mind for your first game, which I did on the weekend, and then you know, when that first contact happens, you realise it it was always it was always just something playing in your mind, and of course the stuff you've done in rehab has prepared you for that side of it. So as soon as you get that first game out of the way, then it's sweet. And like you said, now I've got full confidence in in my shoulder, and then I can just get back on focusing on the rugby now.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

Excellent stuff. Well, all the best for the well, with your shoulders and everything, and and all the best for the rest of the season, too.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

Perfect, thank you very much.

SPEAKER_02 13:01

Thanks for that.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

Well done. Cheers, guys. Thank you very much. I'll send around the audio.