Family background perfect prep for All Blacks challenge, says Doris / Photo: © AFP
Family background perfect prep for All Blacks challenge, says Doris
Caelan Doris says his interest in psychology and his parents being psychotherapists were helping him as he prepares to captain Ireland in a blockbuster Test against New Zealand on Friday.
The 26-year-old No 8 has been one of Ireland's oustanding players since Andy Farrell first capped him in 2020 and has been rewarded with the captaincy for the November Tests.
Doris says being named captain makes him "hugely proud" for his family and everyone who's played a role in his "rugby journey".
His family also helped in his approach to the game pitching the world ranked number one side against the team that dashed his and Farrell's dreams of World Cup glory last year.
"There's definitely a crossover there. Probably not directly from my psychology degree but probably more so from my parents and my interest in psychology in general," said Doris at his eve-of-match press conference.
"How exactly, I'm not sure.
"Probably in many different ways. And I think understanding myself, self-awareness, that I've come from that, probably make me a better player I would say."
Doris, who will have help if he needs it in terms of advice as his predecessor Peter O'Mahony is on the bench, says he believes it is through his "actions" he can lead the team.
On that note he will be looking to produce a vastly improved performance than he did in the 28-24 World Cup defeat by the All Blacks in Paris.
Indeed his knock on from an All Black clearance in the dying stages of the thriller symbolised his and Ireland's performing below their best -- he had been one of their rocks up until then.
Like Farrell he is not viewing Friday's game as revenge, but he fervently hopes he can extend Ireland's proud unbeaten home record to 20 matches.
"I haven't thought about it too much personally," he replied on avenging the World Cup defeat.
"I've obviously reflected on that game and I know it wasn't near one of my best performances or where I can get to."
- 'Testing yourself' -
Doris said he had chalked that below-par performance down to experience and drawn on it to improve.
"It's all part of the journey and the evolution of a player and of a person," he said.
"I'm sure that game, some of the lessons from it will lead to further development and growth for me.
"I'm looking forward to putting that into action."
How Doris and his fellow backrow teammates Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Beirne fare against their opposite trio could prove crucial as to the outcome.
They came off second best in the quarter-final which was one of the major reasons for their failure to progress.
Doris purred about the prospective battle and how it is exactly the type of contest one plays rugby for.
"Obviously (Sam) Kane was world-class against us in the quarter-final," said Doris. "{Ardie) Savea as well, (Wallace) Sititi in particular is obviously a young player.
"He's been class in the Championship and last week again against England.
"I think you love testing yourself against other world-class oppositions and against very good back-rows as well.
"It'll be a good challenge."
D.Serrano--ESF
