Nicolás Martins exclusive: Portugal flanker hails ‘unforgettable’ Rugby World Cup

Francisco Isaac
Portugal flanker Nicolas Martins scoring a try.

Portugal flanker Nicolas Martins scoring a try.

Portugal flanker Nicolás Martins talks exclusively to Planet Rugby about a memorable Rugby World Cup as he returned to Pro D2 action with a try last weekend.

Martins plays his club rugby in France for Soyaux Angoulême XV and was straight back to the day job last Friday, days after starring for Os Lobos in the pools.

Here he speaks about the atmosphere at the global tournament, returning to club duty, his roots and the World Cup, but starts off with his impressive defence.

Tackling maestro

“For me to miss a tackle is one of the worst things I can do as a player. I’m always focused on working it; to be on time; to be good at it; and to avoid being disappointed with myself. When I missed my first tackle against Australia [only three missed tackles out of 63], I was so angry, and I didn’t want to feel like that,” Martins explained.

“After you tackle you have to get back up and be ready to do it again, to help your team. It’s something that you work on, yes, but it is also a mindset. I am not the most dominant tackler, but if someone is coming in my direction, I have to take him down without ifs or hows. No one can pass through me.

“If I miss a tackle, a lineout, or drop my physical intensity, then I am not doing my job, and it will harm the team. I don’t and can’t want to do that, so my mindset is one: ‘don’t fail at your job’. The stats aren’t important for me, just what my team achieves. That’s my role and job.

“You know, it’s funny because when I was young, I didn’t like tackling. I was actually a bit scared of it and, in time, I learned how to surpass it. I had a coach who said a very important thing to me one day: ‘You don’t have to be the best at every position. You don’t have to be the best runner or kicker… your role is to be good where we need you, and we need you to be great in lineouts and tackling’. That changed my mindset and helped me become a better player for my team.”

An atmosphere that changed everything

“The first thing or emotion that I felt right after stepping on the pitch was… well I was lost for words. There was a cascade of feelings pouring down me. 40,000 fans were just there, cheering for us, dressed in Portugal’s clothes, in a sea of red. I just had the biggest of smiles on my face. It was crazy, and I think it pushed us to be a greater team and players,” Martins revealed.

“The crowd inspired us to be bigger. Against Wales, Georgia, Australia, and Fiji, I won’t ever forget how the fans reacted at every successful tackle, lineout, or scrum we won, offload connected, or try scored. Just remembering it makes me feel a bit emotional, and so happy. It really was a game-changer for us.

“Look, when I scored our first try in the World Cup, I just remember standing back up, seeing Mike [Tadjer] and Steevy [Cerqueira] joining me, and an endless ocean of red shirts jumping around. The noise, the feeling, the emotions… unforgettable. I enjoyed that moment for three seconds, and focused again on the game because we wanted more.”

A humble Angoulême server

“It was a nice change of pace to come back from the World Cup and play for my club. The ambiance maybe changed just a bit, but it’s so good to be back home and play for our crowd. They were waiting for me and Iñaki [Ayarza – Chile’s utility back], and welcomed us with such passion that I won’t forget,” he revealed.

“There were a lot of young kids coming up to us before and after the game asking for autographs and photos, and I was surprised about it. There was a lot of love and passion from them and it just makes everything even more special for us.

“I know I didn’t have any rest after the World Cup, but Angoulême needed me and I came back running. They made everything possible for me, and I just want to help my club to do a good Pro D2.”

On his Portuguese roots and passion

“My father didn’t have the time to teach me Portuguese, even if I kept bothering him to speak the language at home. But I felt always very Portuguese, as I feel as French,” he said.

“I made a promise to my grandfather that I was going to be a great player and a Test match international. He didn’t have the chance to see me become one and play for Portugal, but I know he watched it from Heaven. I know he is proud of me for having played for Portugal.

“The first time wasn’t easy for me, back in 2020. I was the unknown guy in the group and came to Lisbon to be observed. Patrice Lagisquet had faith in me, and in 2022 he called me to play against Georgia. After that, I picked up the starting spot in the qualification games, and then I remained in the first XV for the Rugby Europe Championship.

“I’m very Portuguese on the sweet tooth side of things… if you ask me if I prefer a Bola de Berlim or Pastel de Nata, it’s difficult to choose from. But I would go with the latter.

“As for Portuguese favourite words… I have two but I can’t really say them out loud, as they are nasty words. Funny though, and every Portuguese seems to say them at the end of any sentence,” Martins said while smiling.

The build-up to a World Cup sensation

“We worked a lot over the past four years, most of the team sacrificed so much to deliver this dream to everyone. I only joined them one year ago, but I saw how my teammates were driving their bodies and minds to the fullest extent of their abilities,” he revealed.

“David Gérard and Michaël Dallery coming in were crucial for the lineout and scrum, as they updated our plays, and brought in good ideas that worked really well with what the rest of the staff outlined. They made us become a threat, and caught everyone by surprise. The team felt more dominant and could take advantage of two areas that we needed to improve.

“We have shown some good things, played lovely rugby, and I think it will have the same effect as that 2007 had for Portugal. Some players that were doubtful to play for the Lobos’ will now be more available for a call.

“We are heading for a transitional phase, and people must acknowledge that. We lost Samuel Marques, Mike Tadjer, and a few others who were great names for Portugal, and we need now to rebuild our team to be ready for the challenges that await us. We want to be in Australia in four years!”

READ MORE: Rugby World Cup Team of the Week: Semi-finalists dominate our selection

Features