WHEN LEINSTER RUN out at the Aviva Stadium this weekend they will line up for kick-off with a young number eight who has wasted little time in making himself a key man.
Caelan Doris won’t feel overawed.
The occasion carried more pitfalls last weekend and the Premiership leaders, with their experienced out-half, made sure to test the mettle of the 21-year-old with repeated restarts landed on top of him.
His powerful carries back from Dan Biggar’s kicks were a stinging riposte that helped set Leinster on the path to victory over Northampton.
The venue, he insists, is no cause for trepidation either. That’s not because Doris claims to have hoovered up all available knowledge in the two April minutes he played in the Champions Cup semi-final win over Toulouse or the dry run against Bath this time last year. Instead, it might be down to his mental approach, a willingness to interrogate why a venue can be a factor.
Through his degree in psychology, Doris will undertake a project on performance in home and away environments, though it’s not an issue suffers from himself.
“I highly enjoy playing away, I like coming up against hostile crowds,” he says with relish, though a festive Saturday evening at the Aviva might require him to shut out more of the crowd than he grates up against.
The approach and preparation will be the same, however.
“Not too much (changes), for Heineken Cup games we meet up in UCD and get the bus down together, whether it’s in the RDS or the Aviva, so that would be the same.
“Obviously it’s cool, the whole set-up of the Aviva, the changing rooms and the pitch and all, it’s a pretty cool experience.
“I was 24th for the Bath game as well so got the experience of that as well, but in terms of the regime on the day it’s not too much different.”
If it ain’t broke…
Outwardly, Leinster coaches and players have been highlighting areas which they need to improve. But their seven-try win over Northampton was a thrilling spectacle and a showcase for the brilliant highs they are capable of.
The 16-43 triumph was the eastern province’s 10th straight win since the season kicked off. And while the senior internationals are vital to reaching the ‘Test level’ performance that overawed Chris Boyd’s side, Doris has been core in both front and second line teams having played eight times in the 10-game run.
“It took a while to adjust to the physicality and the speed and all of it, but I’m definitely a lot happier with the start of this season compared to last year. I think I have come on a bit,” he says modestly.
Probably stick to the same core principles, running hard and good footwork, things like that. There’s obviously not as much space at this level. Bodies are bigger and guys are better decision-makers as defenders. It’s probably just adjusting to that. I haven’t tweaked too many things in terms of my carrying. I’m making a few more metres this year than last year anyway.”
“Hopefully there is still lots of room for improvement. I’m enjoying it massively as well, which I think leads into that. The Glasgow game over there was probably the most enjoyable game I have played for Leinster so far: hostile environment, -2 or -3 degrees and just how we ground out the win. We didn’t even give them the bonus point towards the end so that was incredibly enjoyable.”
While it can attributed in no small part to the absence of Jack Conan so far this season, Doris’ rise is a rapid one. And as long as he is holding on to a starting berth in the Leinster pack, he has a right to be considered for international camps and potentially the Six Nations under Andy Farrell.
The would-be sports psychologist in Doris kicks in as he insists his focus won’t drift beyond the coming fixture, but he’ll have to acknowledge the carrot dangled before him soon.
“I genuinely haven’t thought about it too much, but I suppose naturally if you’re starting 8 for Leinster and obviously with Jack out as well, and if you’re performing there could be an opportunity there.
“But as I said my focus has been on performing for Leinster and doing my best there, and not worrying too much about what will happen in the future.”
He adds: “It is so competitive in here that my main focus is on here and trying to get the 8 jersey and play the best that I can when I get that opportunity. So I haven’t really thought too far beyond that. It’s not a guarantee at all that I am going to be in this position…
“I’m enjoying it at the minute and hopefully if I get the opportunity again I’ll take it with both hands again.”
And this is the club that people on here defend. Wonder what religion the dole scroungers from Govan think their top scorer is. Can’t see Kris Boyd being as vocal on this one
@Roberts Mel: That’s a fact! You’d need to have a long hard look at yourself if your support or defend that club in any way, shape or form. Xenophobic bunch of knuckle draggers.
@Roberts Mel: you are just as bad as them you know. Condoning the coin throwing the other day. Always the victim
@Joe: please point our where I condoned the coin throwing? I never even mentioned it! So how did I condone it?
Well done Steve Clarke. Needs more players and officials who aren’t from Celtic calling out that crap for what it is.
@Cian Nolan: the only way anything will ever be done is if players and coaches keep highlighting it to the media. Good on Steve Clarke and Kris Boyd for calling out what he was subjected to last week.
@The Bloody Nine: “Good on Kris Boyd” Haha that’s a laugh.. He’s a bitter Rangers fan that forgets another football club is actually paying his wages. He’s been talking Rangers up all season even though is plays for Killie..
@David Garland: I can’t believe you think sectarian abuse and coin throwing is ok because of what team a guy supports. It’s wrong no matter who it’s aimed at.
@The Bloody Nine: Didn’t see David mention anything about coin throwing or sectarian abuse never mind David saying it was okay for these things to happen. He just made reference to Kris Boyd and how nice of a fella he is.
@Roberts Mel: why is telling me how nice Kris Boyd is? I don’t envisage any scenario where I’ll be meeting the lad so his personality is irrelevant to me, as is who he supports or pays his wages.
@The Bloody Nine: Show me where I condoned coin throwing and show us how Kris Boyd has been a victim of Sectarian abuse? Also my point is Kris Boyd is quick to talk up Rangers telling everyone Celtic are in crisis and they’re is a split in the dressing room while all the time he’s playing for Killie.. As I said he’s a bitter Rangers Fan who never comes out giving out about the sectarian chanting coming from Ibrox..
@David Garland: he was called a fat orange b*****d by the Celtic fans
@Anthony Connery: well they ain’t lying
@David Garland: my apologies David if I misunderstood your comment. However, I can’t see how it’s relevant to my point that the more people experience sectarianism in football the more it needs to be spoken about and highlighted. And that’s regardless of who you play for or support. I’m at a loss as to why you’re arguing with me about this!
Normally at this stage of the comments we’d have someone on blaming the Celtic fans for the huns sectarianism.. With Neil Lennon gone I suppose they have to get someone else to racially abuse.. But clearly Sevco don’t know the meaning of the word “Fenian”
Rte have a lot to answer for the showing of “British” games when the english teams were banned from Europe. I know quite a few lads who are rangers fans from that influence. All rangers games were shown live as a substitute for the uk games.
@Trevor Beacom: any Irish person supporting The Rangers clearly has some sort of mental health problem.
@Ciaran Rice: You get an awful lot of Irish people who will support them out of spite because they can’t get their head around Irish people supporting Celtic, that’s how idiotic some football fans are in this Country.. The same people think nothing of supporting Clubs like Chelsea who we all know love Rangers and the UVF
@Ciaran Rice: Knew a guy at work who used to wear sevco shirt and England one during internationals. Was done purely for attention and the wind-up. Would not go out in public dressed like that, though.
@Ciaran Rice: Yea I know a few Irish Rangers supporters and they ain’t mental.
Ive been a long time Celtic supporter neigh on 55 years and ive witnessed plenty sectarian stuff in the Old “Jungle” which is probably well before your time.
That said Rangers have an ultra toxic lot that are very vocal.
Is Steve Clarke not a Rangers fan.. Can’t understand why they called him that
@ColmD: Clarke and his entire family are Celtic fans.
@Ciaran Rice: I didn’t know that.. Like him even more now..
@Ciaran Rice: Yes he was touted as a Celtic Manager at one point.
@Nick Condon Sen: he’ll be the next Celtic manager when Brendan leaves I’d say.
@Ciaran Rice:
The newest club in Scotland , reminds us all of a previous old one , same sectarian dribble , coming from bitter begrudgers .
Huns
I wonder do Rangers fans watch Braveheart and think” thank god we got William Wallace. Long life longshanks”
Seriously Rangers fans have to be the most confused idiotic bunch.. they havnt the slightest clue of their own national identity or heritage