Caelan Doris says he had no choice but to push his World Cup aside after watching how young gun James Culhane has started the season in his position for Leinster.

Doris conceded that Ireland falling short in the quarter-finals was "devastating" and that he needed the full three weeks off to get back into the mindset of playing rugby again.

That process was helped by the performances of Culhane, the former Ireland under-20s no 8 who has looked at home in Doris' jersey.

READ MORE: 'Edge' to Leinster as they search Aviva vengeance v Munster for URC semi-final defeat

With Jack Conan also returning for the province this week after his tour of duty at France 2023, the impressive Doris is keen to get better and better.

“I'm excited to do that," he said. "I have obviously been watching the team keenly over the last while, some of the young guys who have stepped up. James Culhane, obviously in my position.

“I am kind of setting new goals and trying to improve because if I don’t do that then he is going to take my position.

“There is an exciting element that comes with that of just having to stay on the straight and narrow and keep improving. So, I am excited to get stuck back in.

“I went across to LA, to my brother. No one cares about rugby over there, so it was nice to completely forget about it.

“My cousin and brother were there, so it was a nice bit of family time. Just a completely different surrounding, so that was a good way for me to forget about it and process it myself and do a little bit of training and build back up for the rest of the season.

"I feel like I'm in a pretty good place.”

Doris is yet to look back at that quarter-final defeat in full as the pain is still acute.

But that review will happen as it is his aim to get to the level of his Kiwi counterpart Ardie Savea, who put on a masterclass against Ireland.

“Definitely there are elements of his game that I would like to get better at, for sure," said the Mayo man.

"I've been pretty happy with my defensive game over the last while - a few sloppy penalties here and there, but generally being more of a nuisance, slowing a bit of ball down and getting a few turnovers here and there.

“But I want to put more attention back into my attack, get my carries up and bring back a few offloads here and there, and just be a little bit more dominant in that side of things.

"That’s a big focus for me over the next while.”

Doris is eager to get back on the Aviva Stadium pitch on Saturday for the URC clash with Munster, the first meeting of the rivals since the Reds prevailed in last season's semi-final.

The 25-year-old watched from the stand and says the game is a "vivid memory", adding: "The Munster fans and the Munster team going crazy in the Aviva, which we kind of feel is our home - one of our homes!

“So, that’s replaying a little bit this week. Genuinely, any time we play Munster, there is extra excitement to it for sure.

“I think Denis Leamy probably brought their level of training up a notch, definitely.

"Hearing from the Munster guys, they train incredibly hard and they back their fitness massively, and back the repetition that Stuart Lancaster would have had with us.

“It’s a funny one. The Thursday after we got back from the World Cup, there was a mix of Munster, Ulster and Leinster lads having a coffee.

“We were discussing with some of the younger Munster lads how it was going to be bizarre going from seeing each other everyday for the guts of five or six months, to the next time seeing each other being on the pitch at the Aviva.

"But all friendships and everything will be put to the side for the few hours, for sure. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into Craig Casey and Jack Crowley in particular!”

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