Force five-eighth’s Wallabies hopes rise after victory over Waratahs
Ben Donaldson was sitting on his couch in Australia last November when the Wallabies faced France in Paris in the final test of their end-of-season European tour.
Force five-eight was uninjured. He just wasn’t wanted. His stock had fallen so low that inside center Hamish Stewart, who played just 10 professional games at five-eighth, was named as the reserve No.10 at the Stade de France.
Six months later, Donaldson’s performances are on the rise again after helping the Force beat the Waratahs on Friday night.
His final appearance for the Wallabies came in the victory over the British and Irish Lions in the third Test last August, where he came off the bench for two crucial conversions. But Donaldson is honest about the reasons behind Joe Schmidt’s decision to leave him out of the Wallabies’ touring squad.
The coach admired Donaldson’s offensive prowess but was concerned about his defense. This assessment remains valid. Against the Waratahs on Friday night, Donaldson made three tackles out of three but has a relatively poor tackle success rate of 64 per cent this season.
On the other hand, Queensland Reds’ fifth-eighth Carter Gordon’s tackle success rate is 85 percent. It’s also worth noting that Donaldson has played 10 Super Rugby games to Gordon’s five after an injury-plagued year.
While Donaldson has defensive weaknesses, he largely makes up for it in other areas. After scoring a straightforward penalty in the 68th minute that sealed the Force’s victory on Friday night, Donaldson has an 85 per cent success rate with his kicks this season.
By comparison, the Reds and Brumbies’ Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Tane Edmed have success rates of 80 per cent and 75 per cent respectively. Gordon has a minor knee injury and has not been able to shoot on target this year.
Donaldson’s threat as a running playmaker was also on display against the Waratahs as he carried the ball 50 metres, breaking two lines and beating three defenders. Donaldson later admitted it was a conscious decision to think outside the team’s game plan and take on the Waratahs’ defence.
“I just guide the team, try to play freely, play what’s in front of me and not get too robotic,” Donaldson said. “My mentality tonight was: touch the ball as much as possible, run the line and sometimes I have to get through and break the line. These are some of my ‘work’.”
“In terms of Joe and the Wallabies, obviously he wants me to be a director and a loud voice, but he actually wants the 10s to touch the ball. He wants the 10s to step up and not stay in the pocket.”
Donaldson is an Australian playmaker with an outstanding range kick. Before facing the Waratahs, fifth-eighth Power was averaging 331 meters per game. In Test rugby his ability to help the team come out effectively and also take corner kicks is an asset. Their next closest Australian rivals are Brumbies Declan Meredith and Edmed, who average 230 and 211 meters respectively.
With the Wallabies set to face Ireland in Sydney on July 4, the chances for playmakers to stake their claim are narrowing. While Gordon is expected to return quickly from injury, his Reds teammate Tom Lynagh has managed to make one Super appearance off the bench this season. Noah Lolesio, who plies his trade in Japan’s second division, and veteran James O’Connor from Leicester also have overseas options.
Donaldson said after beating the Waratahs that the Wallabies were not on his mind this season. After leading the Force to their first victory in Sydney in five years, it’s safe to say he will return to Schmidt’s thinking.
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