From unwanted to unstoppable: How Donaldson is playing his way back into the Wallabies

Ben Donaldson was on his sofa in Australia last November when the Wallabies faced France in Paris in the final Test of the end-of-season European tour.

The Force five-eighth wasn’t injured. He just wasn’t wanted. His stock had fallen so low that inside centre Hamish Stewart, who had played just 10 professional games at five-eighth, was selected to fill in as the reserve No.10 at the Stade de France.

Six months on, after helping the Force to defeat the Waratahs on Friday night, Donaldson’s performances are on the rise again.

His last appearance for the Wallabies came in the victory over the British and Irish Lions in the third Test last August, when he came off the bench to kick 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 is an admirer of Donaldson’s attacking skill set, but was concerned about his defence. That assessment remains valid. Against the Waratahs on Friday night, Donaldson made three from three tackles, but has a relatively weak tackle success rate of 64 per cent this season.

In contrast, Queensland Reds five-eighth Carter Gordon’s tackle success rate is 85 per cent. It should also be noted that Donaldson has played 10 games of Super Rugby to Gordon’s five after an injury-interrupted year.

While Donaldson has his defensive frailties, he is compensating heavily in other areas. After kicking a straightforward 68th-minute penalty that ultimately sealed Friday night’s victory for the Force, Donaldson has a 85 per cent success rate from the kicking tee this season.

By comparison, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Tane Edmed, respectively of the Reds and Brumbies, are sitting on 80 per cent and 75 per cent success rates. Gordon is nursing a minor knee injury and hasn’t taken a shot at goal this year.

Donaldson’s threat as a running playmaker was also on display against the Waratahs, when he carried the ball 50 metres, made two line breaks and beat three defenders. Donaldson later admitted it had been a conscious decision to think outside the team’s game plan and take on the Waratahs’ defence.

“I’m just driving the team, trying to play free, play what’s in front of me and not be too robotic,” Donaldson said. “That was my mindset coming into tonight: touch the ball as much as possible, run at the line, and sometimes I get to go through and make a line break. They are a few of my ‘work-ons’.

“In terms of Joe and the Wallabies, obviously, he wants me to be a director and a loud voice, but he actually wants the 10 touching the ball as well. He wants 10s stepping up and not sitting in the pocket.”

Donaldson is the outstanding Australian playmaker for kicking distance. Before facing the Waratahs, the Force five-eighth was averaging 331 metres kicked per game. In Test rugby, his ability to help the team exit effectively and also kick for the corner is an asset. His next nearest Australian rivals are Brumbies Declan Meredith and Edmed, who average 230 and 211 metres respectively.

With the Wallabies due to face Ireland in Sydney on July 4, the window for playmakers to press their claim is narrowing. Gordon is expected to return from injury imminently, while his Reds teammate Tom Lynagh has managed one Super appearance off the bench this season. There are also overseas options in Noah Lolesio, who is plying his trade in Japan’s second division, and veteran James O’Connor at Leicester.

Donaldson said after defeating the Waratahs that the Wallabies have not been in his thoughts this season. After leading the Force to their first victory in Sydney in five years, it’s safe to say he will be back in the thoughts of Schmidt.

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