Reds lock Kane Douglas will add a Super Rugby milestone to his list this weekend, but there’s one more he’d like to post before heading to France.
Douglas, who will play his 100th Super Rugby match on Saturday, will head to Bordeaux after this Super Rugby season, and is hoping he has one last chance at Test rugby before leaving.
The 28-year-old was a key figure in the Wallabies’ run to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, but has fallen down in the pecking order because of injuries and patchy form.
This season, though, Douglas has found some consistency, ahead of a June Series against Ireland.
“I'd love to (play for the Wallabies) before I head off. It's not really up to me,” he said.
“All I can do is play my best at the Reds and if something happens, it happens, but if not I'll be in the stands supporting, especially when they're playing at Suncorp.
“I know a fair few of the faces in the Irish team and hopefully I get to catch up with a couple of those boys as well. It'd be awesome to be back in there but not up to me, all I can do is play my best here.”
Douglas spent part of a season with Irish side Leinster, where former Wallaby Scott Fardy is now plying his trade, and said there was plenty of threats in the incoming team.
“They're very disciplined,” he said.
“My time at Leinster, the Leinster boys are very disciplined.
“They can kick goals from anywhere, they're very set piece driven, they're pretty good lineouts and scrums.”
Douglas said he would savour his milestone moment briefly against the Sunwolves, after 76 matches for the Waratahs and 23 for the Reds.
“It's something I wouldn't have thought would come round but most in this team I feel old,” he said.
“I know Georgey's (George Smith’s) 37, but there's 21-year-olds and 19-year-olds, I think even Jordy's (Jordan Petaia’s) 18.
“I feel pretty old but it's an awesome achievement, pretty pumped and hopefully we can make it a good one.”
The Reds are looking to string consecutive wins together when they play in Japan, after surprising the Lions in Brisbane a fortnight ago.
The Reds take on the Sunwolves on Saturday, kicking off at 12pm local, 1pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.
