Fresh set of firsts as Douglas gets set to face Tahs
With more than 100 combined Super Rugby and Test caps, there are very few firsts left in rugby for Kane Douglas.
The rejuvenated 28-year-old will breach new ground on Saturday, though, having been named in the second row for the Reds' clash with the Waratahs.
It will be the first time Douglas has faced his home state, the first time he has pulled on Queensland's markedly popular heritage jersey and the first time he has played at the SCG.
"I missed out in 2016 when I was injured and we only played them once last year and I didn't get picked," Douglas said.
"It'll be good to see those guys and it'll be good to see how the rivalry plays out on the other side of the coin."I never played at the SCG when I was at the Waratahs, either, so it will be cool to play there and I think all the boys here are ready to rip in and put on the park what we didn't, last week."
While the build up to Australian rugby's biggest rivalry clash has begun at Ballymore, Douglas expects things to kick up a notch in the next 48 hours.
"Thorny will probably rev it up and some of the boys that have been here for a while will rev it up," he said.
"It's obviously a massive rival, there is a massive history with it and we're in a pretty cool heritage jersey, as well.
"I missed out on getting to wear it last year and it should be a great game."
Coach Brad Thorn labelled his side's performance against the Brumbies as "immature" and Douglas said their poor performance had been addressed throughout training this week.
"As much as we started good with the points on the board, there were a few things where we didn't start the game (well)," he said.
"We weren't hitting rucks as hard as we wanted and there were a few things that we had been looking at doing to start well with that we didn't do.
"It was disappointing that they scored a fair few tries in the second half and ran away with it but there are still positives and we still have belief in our own game to get the job done."
The Reds face the Waratahs at the SCG on Saturday night, kicking off at 7:45pm, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS and RUGBY.com.au radio.
