Douglas is finally ‘feeling at home’ after poor start with Leinster

Kane Douglas is finally ‘feeling at home’ after a turbulent start to his Leinster career following his move from the Waratahs last summer.

The 25-year-old has shipped criticism this season and was hauled off early in the second-half against Harlequins in December before ending the year as part of the side which lost badly to Munster.

And having been used to playing 80 minutes every week in Australia he has also had to adapt to a different system at Leinster.

“It’s going good, I feel like I’m adjusting,” he said. “I’m feeling at home now though it is a bit different here. I think you spend more times in scrums and lineouts and lineout mauls. There’s more of a focus on that during the week in training. I also knew that they do a lot of player rotation. There are heaps of players who play for Ireland and it’s weird, one week you’re playing and you’ve got all the Irish boys.

“It’s sort of good they do rotate and give boys rests, then you’re playing with young guys who are trying to show themselves and get better. That’s sort of surprised me a little bit but it’s not a bad surprise.”

Douglas’ scrum coach Marco Caputo has no doubt what his countryman can offer for the rest of the season and says it’s up to the management team to ensure his qualities emerge on the pitch.

“We were beaten by Munster in the physical department and Kane’s got the ability to be that physical presence on the field and impose,” said Caputo. “He’s six foot eight, six foot nine, 120 kilos and when he whacks you, you stay whacked. We need to get that out of Kane and make sure when he carries the ball he moves the gain line forward. He has the ability to do that.”

Douglas, who has 14 caps for the Wallabies, gave a frank assessment of his own performance at Thomond Park, so he was relieved to start the year positively after coming on against Ulster last weekend.

“It was definitely a step in the right direction, especially bouncing back from that Munster game. I think I played terrible against Munster, it’s probably why I was on the bench at the weekend. But it’s been good to experience that win. Hopefully there’s a few more to come.”