Caelan Doris targets Ireland spot against Italy with reputation enhanced

Caelan Doris says that Ireland’s new playing style is ‘similar to Leinster in a way’, with Andy Farrell asking the players to ‘see what’s in front of us and use our skillset’. Picture: Morgan Treacy

As a back-row forward for Leinster, Caelan Doris is prepared for fierce competition for places — but he feels as well-placed as any in the current Ireland camp to press his claims for a start in Saturday’s 2020 Guinness Six Nations resumption.

Earning his Test debut from an incoming head coach, as he did from Andy Farrell for the championship opener against Scotland back on February 1, would make any up-and-coming player feel good about themselves, even if Doris’s introduction to international rugby lasted just five minutes before a concussion intervened. Getting the nod ahead of vice-captain Peter O’Mahony will have been even more of a confidence boost, though the Munster skipper had reasserted his place in the starting trio by the time Doris was available again.