RWI Player of the Year Caelan Doris opens up on dealing with the pressure to succeed with Ireland
The 26-year-old Mayo man says he has felt comfortable taking all the steps that has got him to such an elevated position in rugby but insists there is much more to come
Caelan Doris was still drinking in the news of his World Player of the Year nomination when the Rugby Writers of Ireland caught up with him as the winner of the Guinness RWI Player of the Year.
A busy week stretches out in front of him. Doris was in the Guinness Storehouse last night to pick up his award and, after Ireland's third Autumn series fixture against Fiji, he will be Monaco-bound for the prestigious World Rugby gongs - he is short-listed with three of South Africa's world champions.
"The nomination was pretty cool this morning," said Doris. "I was surprised at it, but it was pretty cool. Given it's such a team sport, it's more of a reflection on the two groups, the two environments and the success we've had with Leinster and Ireland.
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"I'm a product of the environment I feel, but at the same time I hope a lot of the people from Ballina, from Mayo, my family and friends take a bit of enjoyment from it as well. It's pretty cool, I am happy with it."
It has been a big few months for the 26-year-old. First he was appointed as Leinster's new captain, then Andy Farrell handed him the responsibility in the Ireland squad.
A lot to take in, then, but Doris has glided through every milestone step to this point. "In some ways it has been quite a natural, incremental process," he said.
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"The whole thing from underage, into the academy, first cap with Leinster, first European cap, my debut..it hasn't felt like one massive jump, it's kind of been quite an incremental thing. And, like, both environments are so enjoyable to be in. It's a very enjoyable process as well.
"I love coming in to train every day, I love being in camp. I love being with some of my best mates every day and getting to do what I do. It's a very enjoyable thing.
"I also feel like my friends and family outside of rugby keep me pretty grounded, I'm still just Caelan the normal person to them. That's nice as well. I'm a little bit more able to take it in my stride, and enjoy it a little bit more, and know that there's so many good leaders around me.
"There's also that element of pressure, especially given the New Zealand game didn't go how we wanted and then you're feeling 'God, we have to win this week now'.
"The pressure is framed from the coaches and ourselves in quite a positive way, we know we're good enough to do it, it's just about going out there and doing it. It's not a burden, it's more an excitement to go out and do it. It doesn't feel like there's a massive weight of the pressure, it's an exciting challenge to walk towards but we have to get it right."
Doris mentions that he wasn't very happy with his performances against the All Blacks and Argentina. It's something that he has said after big games before. It's an honest approach, and he is asked if that honesty motivates him to get better.
"Possibly," he replied. "It's not something I overly think about. I know myself when I'm reviewing the game, 'I could have done that better, I could have done that better, I could have had more carries, I could have had more involvements'.
"It's something I'm thinking about, so when I get asked about it, I just say it. I don't think it's me putting pressure on myself to perform. I don't beat myself up about it, but it does dictate my mood and my thoughts a bit, at the same time.
"There's a bit of frustration there but it's also that I know I have more in me. It's not over harsh words, but I am pretty critical when I'm reviewing (myself)."
Fiji and Australia are still to be faced in this window and, after the loss to New Zealand and close call against Argentina, there can be no let up. In fact, Doris insists that Ireland must improve.
“For us, it’s about a level up," he stressed. "There’s the obvious thing of the last two weeks, our discipline, so improving that's going to be a big one. We looked at our attack and how we can be a lot better with just the basics - simple catch-pass, being square, these little things we’ve talked about for quite a while.
"But as individuals if we don’t hone in on them, they can fall to the wayside a little bit, just get five to 10 % sloppier on them. They're bits that you have to do your mental prep on, pre and post, and just stay on top, keep them as primed as possible. We’re hoping our attack and discipline will be improved this week."
Doris is tipped to be the British and Irish Lions captain in Australia - but he insists he can't even think about such an honour right now. His promotion to Leinster and Ireland skipper places him as the early favourite for the role under his Ireland boss Andy Farrell.
However the warm-up clash with Argentina in Dublin ahead of the tour of Australia is exactly seven months away. “It’s beyond my thinking," the back row said. "When I’m setting out my season goals of course it comes up about making the tour - I’d absolutely love to.
"But I always set out my goals for the season, then have them in the background and then focus on week on week on week which I think is the only way you can do it. You don’t want to get lost in something down the line and not perform each week and you end up losing out on it. I’m very much week to week at the minute.”
Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Awards 2024 – Winners
Women’s XV Player of the Year:
- Aoife Wafer
Men’s XV Player of the Year:
- Caelan Doris
Men’s 7s Player of the Year:
- Zac Ward
Women’s 7s Player of the Year:
- Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
Dave Guiney Team of the Year:
- Ireland Senior Men’s team
Club of the Year:
- Ballyclare RFC
Tom Rooney Award:
- Gerry Kelly
Hall of Fame Inductees:
- Joy Neville
- Keith Wood
Fred Cogley Award:
- Edmund Van Esbeck
- Len Dinneen
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