13 GAMES INTO his Leinster career, Kane Douglas is feeling at home.
The 25-year-old admits to being unhappy with some of his performances in his first season with Matt O’Connor’s side, but the adaptation process is nearing completion and competition in the second row is driving the Australian.
Having won a Super Rugby title with Michael Cheika’s Waratahs in 2014, Douglas has had to undergo a slight redesign in transferring to European rugby, particularly given the alteration in style of play.
The simple fact of being in a new environment makes the transition that little more difficult.
I think it takes time when you come to a new team,” says Douglas. “You’ve got to adjust to different calls and the different people you’re playing around. I do feel a bit more comfortable the last few weeks and hopefully I can just get better.
“It feels like home and I’ve got all my mates around, so it’s good.”
The peak of Douglas’ displays so far came in last month’s win over Connacht at the RDS, when he hit ferociously in the tackle, chipped in with a handful of carries and passes, intimidated off the ball and contributed handsomely to the set-piece.
Afterwards, Leinster head coach O’Connor hailed it as Douglas’ best showing in blue, before underlining that the lock has had to adapt his approach to the increased set-piece demands in European rugby.
“I definitely felt that when I first got here,” says Douglas himself. “You spend a bit more time in the scrums and lineouts, that stuff. I was sort of chatting to Matt after games and saying ‘I’m feeling pretty stuffed.’
“I was probably just as fit as I was [at the 'Tahs], but you probably need to be even fitter, especially forwards, because you’re using a fair bit of energy up at the set-pieces.
It’s hard trying to get into the game outside of that, but I think I’ve been getting better and trying to improve that stuff away from the set-piece. Trying to make some tackles and trying to get some carries in.”
That Douglas followed up such an aggressive performance with a disappointing showing against Munster on St. Stephen’s Day demonstrates that he has yet to find consistency in Leinster colours.
Douglas admits “I wasn’t very happy with how I played” in Thomond Park, but the competition provided by Ireland international pair Devin Toner and Mike McCarthy is ensuring the 12-times capped Wallaby remains highly motivated.
“Definitely, but we’re all mates. I like to see them go well as well, so I’ve just got to focus on myself. I’ve just got to use the time I get to put my best foot forward,” continues Douglas.
“Everyone wants to start, but those boys have been going really well. Dev’s been killing it and Mike’s been putting on some good hits and good carries. I’ve got to keep doing my best. I want to start, but it’s all about who’s gone best the week before and keeping their places.”
Douglas was benched behind that duo for last weekend’s win over Ulster at the RDS, but may return to the starting XV for Saturday’s clash against the Cardiff Blues in Wales.
Leinster head into that fixture encouraged by their second-half display against Neil Doak’s side, when they outscored Ulster by ten points. Douglas jokes that it was down to his appearance off the bench, before agreeing that Leinster will look to that showing as their latest benchmark.
The team went very well and especially the back rowers, Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier, Jordi [Murphy] too. The second half went pretty well and we scored a couple of tries, so that was all good.
“I think we’re definitely going to go out and try to have a good performance this week and hopefully that leads into the European games. Everyone’s raring to go.”
