Australia's Kane Douglas ready to face the nation he could have represented

Australia’s grinding victory over Wales to seal top spot in Pool A and Scotland’s second place Pool B finish sets up a re-run of the 2003 quarter-final, when the then World Cup hosts defeated their British rivals 33-16 in Brisbane. Surprisingly that is the only time these two countries have met in the eight World Cups held since 1987. It’s also a clash that holds special significance for one Wallabies player in particular.

Against Scotland, Kane Douglas will have the curious opportunity of playing a nation he could have himself represented, considering his tartan heritage. “Yeah, I would have been if I hadn’t played for Australia,” he says. The forward’s grandfather hails from Glasgow’s Springfield Road and has instilled in his family a strong appreciation of their Scottish background, despite being raised on NSW’s north coast. Douglas was born in Maclean, a tiny community that holds a Highland gathering every year and is known as “The Scottish Town” in Australia.

Douglas’s older brother, Luke, has even represented Scotland in rugby league. An NRL prop with the Gold Coast Titans, Luke starred for the Bravehearts in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. In that tournament Scotland surprised by reaching the quarter-finals. In this World Cup in a different code, Scotland managed to pip Japan and Samoa into a quarter-final placing behind Pool B winners, South Africa.

Douglas’s father was in the UK two years ago to see Luke play in the Rugby League World Cup and Kane hopes he will be back in the country soon to see the Wallabies in action. “Hopefully he comes over in the next couple of weeks,” Douglas says. “He’s building his house at the moment. He’s Archibald Douglas my dad is, it’s a very Scottish name. My brother’s played a few games for them [Scotland] and he’s hoping to play a few more.”

Douglas only returned to the Australian fold in July with a late bid to break into Michael Cheika’s World Cup squad. A player Cheika knows well, as he was part of his Super Rugby-winning Waratahs squad in 2014, Douglas has made a seamless transition back into the Wallabies’ ranks. The 26-year old, along with fellow returnee and second-rower Dean Mumm, has given Australia depth and experience in a crucial position at a vital time. And Douglas is clearly enjoying his time back in the international arena after a difficult spell in Ireland with Leinster.

“They’re a good bunch of guys and great staff,” Douglas says. “I made a big decision and it’s going well for at the minute, so I’m pretty happy.”

Douglas cut short his time in Europe after one year of a lucrative three-year deal to come home. Sidelined with back injury for the end of the season, with a baby and a World Cup on the way, the 202cm and 123kg giant decided the time was right and signed with the Queensland Reds. Douglas has no regrets and has returned with helpful experience of the physical, forward-based northern hemisphere rugby that awaits them in the quarter-finals

“I liked my time there,” he says. “I’m glad I made the decision to go over there and I’m glad I made the decision to come home. I don’t regret anything and I think I packed a few more scrums and a few more mauls then I would have in Australia, so I’m hoping it was a good decision.”

The battle royale against Wales was a lung-busting effort that took plenty out of the Wallabies. But the match showed that this is an Australian side with character, one that won’t roll over when the heat is on. “We had to dig deep,” Douglas maintains. “We’ve got a lot of belief. We had to dig in, roll up the sleeves and we were in a bit of hole, and we had to get out of it. I don’t know if it was the best game to watch or not, there was no tries, but it was very satisfying in the end to get the win.”

Now Scotland stand between Australia and the chance for a sixth World Cup semi-final appearance. Despite their low ranking, the Scots won’t be taken lightly by the Wallabies. They notched famous upset wins in 2009 and 2012, while in 2013 just six points separated them at Murrayfield, and Scotland will be planning another ambush. Australia remain focused on themselves and their own development, despite the gutsy Wales display: “There’s always little things we need to work on. Just sticking to our basics and keep ticking away.”

Rest and recuperation is on the menu for Douglas in the build-up to Sunday’s (Monday AEDT) game, as the lock readies himself for another gruelling test where forward play and the set-piece will be the defining factor. Scotland will look to drag the Wallabies down into a dogfight and it may take another backs-to-the-wall performance from Australia to see them through. “I haven’t really thought of the game,” Douglas, who has never played Scotland before, says. “[But] it’ll be good.”