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19th December 2023
05:34pm GMT
Pictured is Ireland and Leinster back-row, Caelan Doris as he was unveiled as an ambassador for JFW Renewables alongside Gearoid Whelan, MD and Founder and Leo Hogan, Sales Director. (Credit ©INPHO/JFW Renewables/Aisling O’Brien)[/caption]
"It would be a massive honour, although it's not something I've put a whole lot of thought into at this stage. It isn't one of my goals, for this season anyway. "We've got some, some great leaders there, who would have been under Johnny and helping him quite a bit. So I'm sure one of those guys is going to step up and do a great job. And, like you mentioned, myself and Hugo and another group of lads will be there to support them and help them along the way."With any team, you need a group of leaders, not just one official leader. We had that in the past under Johnny and I'm sure we'll have that again." [caption id="attachment_291218" align="aligncenter" width="640"]
Ireland players, from left, James Lowe, Caelan Doris and Mack Hansen. (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile)[/caption]
"I sort of put a bit of pressure on myself to do a good job. In some ways, as much as it's an honour, it can be less enjoyable at times. It's definitely more work, which is more rewarding at times too. "I've been enjoying trying to do it this season a little bit more, without the title. After that experience in 2018, I wasn't as forthright and not at the forefront, in terms of leading. I'm trying to develop that again over the last number of seasons."Having played under the likes of Sexton, Ryan, Ringrose and Rhys Ruddock, Doris pauses for a moment when he is asked for captaincy and leadership examples he has taken with him. He gravitates towards Sexton's style of leadership - demanding as much of himself as he does of others. Being a tough leader, but one that can articulate his wants and goals clearly.
"Johnny can be quite an emotional person and forthright with that. It was quite impressive. He's obviously a very good speaker, as well, and you could see the amount of time he invested into rugby. It really was at the top of his list of priorities - obviously, along with obviously his family and whatnot. He put so much time and so much effort into it, and wanted the best for the team. "He was always very team-first in his decision making. So there's quite a few admirable qualities like that, yeah, I would have taken away from him, for sure."On Monday, Caelan Doris was out at the IRFU High Performance Centre. It brought back a raft of pre-season World Cup memories. "It gets you excited to be back in camp. It's kind of crazy, the Six Nations is only four or five weeks away, already, at this stage. "It's definitely going to be exciting, hopefully being back in there, seeing all the lads, being back with them and setting new goals as a team for what we want to achieve. Just looking at the schedule of games we've got - Friday night away to France, who obviously would have been quite disappointed with how they went out in the World Cup as well. "So, yeah, if you can't get excited for that game, then you're in the wrong career."
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