Unfortunate.

Robbie Henshaw is absolutely gutted for teammate Andrew Porter who was forced to pull out of the British and Irish Lions squad this summer following a “freak” injury.

Porter was replaced in the squad by England tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler after injuring his toe playing for Leinster in their penultimate domestic game of the season.

Henshaw said he sent Porter a text “straight away” once the news broke. Porter was obviously gutted to have his dream taken away but showed his resiliency when he rocked up to the gym the very next day at 7am and just got on with it.

But Henshaw reckons Porter, who is still only 25, has a “tour or two” still left in him after missing out this time around.

“I sent him a text straight away. I’m sure his phone was blowing up,” Henshaw told us.

“I met him on Monday morning and in fairness to him, he’s a pretty resilient guy. He was in the gym at seven o’clock, lifting weights. Even after getting that sort of news.”

“He’s an incredible athlete. I just feel so sorry for him because he never gets injured. He’s a pretty bulletproof person and a bulletproof player.

“He doesn’t get these types of injuries.

“It’s just so unfortunate the way it came about and just so unlucky. They’re just kind of freak injuries. He’s upbeat and he’s staying really positive, which is great. I’m sure he has another tour or two in him.”

Henshaw knows what it’s all about to get after being selected by the British and Irish Lions, having been forced to fly home early from New Zealand back in 2017, missing the Test-series against the All Blacks.

Whether or not he would have been selected is another question but Henshaw highlighted how players need to be “optimistic” in the scenario. In terms of this year, he feels he’s definitely a leading contender for a Test spot this year.

“Anything could have happened,” Henshaw continued.

There were guys that did get in for the last Test and a few got on the bench for the second Test. You had to be optimistic that anything could happen in rugby. Going into this one, I think the last one has been great learning for me.

“I’ve picked up a lot along the way and got a lot of experience since that tour. I’m definitely in a better position going into this tour.”

Henshaw has been playing some of the best rugby of his career this year, and has been nominated for Zurich Men’s Players’ Player of the Year alongside Connacht’s Tom Daly as well as his Lions teammates Tadhg Beirne and Iain Henderson.

And it’s pretty hard to look past Henshaw if you ask us.

Robbie Henshaw and Dorothy Wall were on hand today to announce the nominees for the 2021 Zurich Men’s Players’ Player of the Year Award and the 2021 Zurich Women’s Players’ Player of the Year Award. Celebrating the achievements of Irish rugby players both on and off the field, the Zurich Irish Rugby Players Awards will take place later in the year.