LONDON: NSW Waratahs championship winner Kane Douglas says he will not backflip on his deal in Ireland to revive his World Cup dream, despite close mentor Michael Cheika taking over the Wallabies coaching job.
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The 14-Test Wallabies lock Dougals has vowed to complete his three-year contract with Leinster after walking out on Australian rugby this year.
Cheika attempted to keep Douglas at the Waratahs, but Douglas could not reach a deal with the ARU on a Wallabies top up for his contract.
"If you think about what ifs you get into the thoughts of should have, could have, would have. I knew what I was giving up when I came over here," Douglas said.
"Maybe it would have been different because of my involvement with Cheik, maybe I would have thought about it more. But I'm happy with where I am at the moment.
"I enjoyed my time under [Cheika], it's a bit sad with what happened with Ewen as well. But I think Cheik can be good for Australian rugby."
Douglas' Leinster teammate and South Sydney Rabbitohs premiership winner Ben Te'o also revealed he was in talks to join Cheika at the Waratahs to make a cross-code swap.
The duo played for Leinster together for the first time on Saturday morning Australian time. Teo broke his arm after 19 minutes while Douglas was also injured in the first half.
Te'o has had just a handful of training sessions since making the switch from the NRL to Irish rugby.
But the hard-running back, who is viewed as Leinster's replacement for Irish great Brian O'Driscoll, said he almost signed a deal with Cheika and the Waratahs.
Cheika led Leinster as coach for five seasons and his advice convinced Te'o to join the club.
"When I decided I was going to leave rugby league I spoke to a couple of rugby teams and the Waratahs was one," Te'o said at his first Leinster press conference.
"I met with Cheika and we were keen to make it happen. It just didn't fit, but he thought it was a good idea to come here [Leinster].
"He said if you're going to come to Europe, this is the best place to learn how to play rugby. 'They'll teach you. They've got good people there'. That is kind of what sealed it for me.
"I didn't ever expect I was going to come to Ireland. But, I think the pull of coming to Leinster was a big part of that. It's not a holiday. I want to learn the game properly. This is the best place to be."
Douglas also believes his game can rise to a new level working with Irish lineout guru Leo Cullen.
The Wallabies will play against Ireland in Dublin in three weeks and Douglas hopes to meet with his ex-coach and former teammates.
The 25-year-old admits a move back to Australia at the end of his deal could be enticing, especially if a 2019 World Cup spot is up for grabs.
"If I still want that in a couple of years, I'd love to wear the [Wallabies] gold jersey again," Douglas said.
"I definitely knew what I was giving when I decided to make the change and do something different with my life. I think this is the start of something good for me after a fairytale finish with the Waratahs.
"I've got to push myself. In the past I've hung in the back a little bit [at the set piece] and let someone else be in charge. But I think Leo Cullen can be good for helping me with that."
Te'o helped the Rabbitohs to an NRL premiership in October in front of 80,000 fans at ANZ Stadium, but made his Leinster 'A' debut in front of a handful of spectators.
"I think I've got the size and I think I'm a strong ball-runner," Te'o said.
"Those are the things that I'm probably going to work on. I have to adjust to the structures here and there's a lot more plays here than I'm used to."
