THE BOG OF WAR
Caelan: We won’t get disorientated
CAELAN DORIS insists Ireland won’t get bogged down by talk of back-to-back Grand Slams.
Doris, nicknamed Bogsy, revealed the moniker has followed him in the game from his schooldays in Dublin.
“It was Bogger because I’m from Mayo,” explained Doris, who skippered Ireland for the first time against Italy last Sunday.
“That was my name in Blackrock and it followed me into the Leinster sub-academy as a few of my Blackrock team-mates were there as well.
“Bogger turned into
Bogsy so it’s grown legs quite a bit and that’s what everyone refers to me as now.”
And Doris is concerned for Barry Backfield – AKA Hugo
Keenan (inset) – who has a knee injury and is a doubt for the visit of Wales on Saturday week. “He’s been unbelievable, he’s been a rock at 15,” said the back row.
“You probably take some of his performances for granted, his ability under the high ball in particular, how well he’s dealt with that. And his knowledge of the backfield – Barry Backfield is his nickname.
“He’s a wealth of knowledge, he’s definitely big boots to fill if he’s not back for Wales.”
Another home win for Ireland would leave them more than halfway towards the first backto-back Slam of the Six Nations era.
Doris insists talk of a clean sweep has not been banned.
“You obviously have your north star and that’s what we’re heading for,” he stated.
“But it is important to maintain a week-to-week focus and not get lost in the whole Grand Slam chat.
“But, of course, it’s a special opportunity so we’re definitely motivated to try and do it.” Doris admits to some extra nerves last week after Andy Farrell handed him the honour of leading the team out against the Azzurri.
“I felt that I had to prove myself a little bit and, given it was my go, I wanted to try to maintain the standards set by Pete O’mahony and Johnny Sexton.
“The pressure wasn’t coming externally, it was more from me wanting to do a good job.
“The leadership group around me were very helpful and I leaned pretty heavily on them.
“I tried to enjoy it as best as possible. I was definitely more nervous, there were definitely more things to think about – I found it a little bit harder to switch off.
“But it was an unbelievable honour to have done it.”
Doris admires how Jack Crowley has filled Sexton’s big shoes at out-half in the opening two championship games.
“Johnny is probably our best ever player, an unbelievable No.10 and one of the best in the world, at the top of his game at 38,” said the 25-year-old.
“But Jack has been unbelievable.
“Sexto was captain and a massive leader but Jack has been too.
“That part of his game will continue to develop because there’s quite a big responsibility on a No.10 to lead the week, lead how we play the game.”