Slowly but surely Ben Donaldson and the Waratahs are finding their feet.
After chasing their tail ever since losing to the Brumbies on the competition’s opening night back in February, the Waratahs are starting to find some momentum.
Their latest success, a gritty 38-20 victory over the Rebels to win back to Weary Dunlop Trophy and seal three wins on-the-trot.
Max Jorgensen celebrates with Mark Nawaqanitawase after the winger scored a spectacular try against the Rebels in Sydney. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Donaldson had worn much of the criticism during the first half of the season, but the 24-year-old finished the night with a smile.
The playmaker sliced through the Rebels’ defence and got away a silky offload to Izaia Perese to score the home side’s fifth try. Unsurprisingly, his teammates rushed to him at once as he lay on the deck.
Then Donaldson, who incredibly is the Wallabies incumbent after starting against Wales last November, landed another conversion out wide to end the night flawlessly from the kicking tee.
“That’s his little trademark,” coach Darren Coleman said, having earlier told Stan Sport Donaldson was “a bit of a forgotten man” amongst his contemporaries.
“We’ve all been looking for that. Hopefully that springboards him to taking on the line a bit more.
“But he had a great day. He kicked really well, he tackled bravely. Like our team, he’s getting better every week.”
The Rebels will leave a frustrated bunch. Their season is quickly slipping away.
They’ve played some brilliant rugby at times during the year but once again they found themselves on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
The visitors took a 17-14 lead into half-time, but only managed a Reece Hodge penalty during the second half.
“I am frustrated,” Rebels coach Kevin Foote said.
“I felt we played well again in the first half and had opportunities to maybe push ahead, but we just didn’t take those opportunities again and at the backend we were scrambling and the game’s getting away from us. Very frustrating.”
Early on it looked like the Rebels would put on a show in front of the small Sydney crowd.
Australia’s burgeoning playmaker Carter Gordon was playing with front-foot ball and doing what he’s done all year.
It led to the Rebels jumping out to a 14-0 after as many minutes.
But in the blink of an eye the game turned as Brad Wilkin was sent to the sin bin for deliberately collapsing the rolling maul and seconds later Jake Gordon pounced on the loose ball from a lineout to level it up.
While the Rebels managed to finish the half with the lead, they would have left feeling annoyed.
The visitors bombed three tries in as many minutes just after the half-hour mark as Monty Ioane dropped a ball out wide, Josh Canham was held up and Wilkin had the ball dislodged when he looked like diving over.
The three blunders proved costly as the home side grew in confidence and the small crowd found their voice.
“Sometimes when they’re good you’ve just got to hang on and try minimise the bleeding or the damage that gets done on the scoreboard,” Coleman said.
“They were all over us in that first 20. We got two quick tries. The maul try was a big swinger and Jake’s work off the lineout was good.
“I thought that monumental moment was sort of around that 32-37 minute maker where they were hammering us and I think we had two held-ups and a bunch of trysavers in there. Going into the sheds at 17-14 was way better than if we had haemorrhaged a bit more.”
Stacey Ili looks dejected as the Waratahs finished over the top of the Rebels in Sydney. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Nothing went right for the Rebels in the second half starting from the first kick restart as Reece Hodge’s banged the ball out on the full. A penalty at the scrum compounded the Rebels’ woes.
It led to some more prime territory and the home side took full advantage of it, adding a second rolling maul penalty try to get back in front. Adding salt to the wound Canham was shown a yellow card.
While Hodge managed to stem the bleeding with his second penalty, the Rebels were their own worst enemy in the second half as poor handling was met with poor discipline.
A marvellous finish from Mark Nawaqanitawase saw the Waratahs extend their lead.
Mark Nawaqanitawase finishes spectacularly against the Rebels at Allianz Stadium, on May 13, 2023, in Sydney. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
It was just the type of freaking finish that have many thinking the Waratahs’ winger will be pencilled into Eddie Jones’ plans.
Another three points from Donaldson extended the Waratahs’ lead, before the playmaker ran to the line and broke free.
It could prove the spark Donaldson needs to break the shackles open after a slow start to the year.
“Ben’s just trying to find his form and he’s starting to do that. I’m just happy for him,” Coleman said.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Thanks Jez, why I love the Roar is I learn from good folks like you. :happy: I knew the elbow was to protect against the LH, but your explanation has shown me why. You can tell I played in the centres/wing, huh? LoL
jeznez
Roar Guru
G'day TF, he's not been in great scrummaging form this year but I don't think Murphy and his team were as bad as some of the comments are suggesting. Definitely a mixed bag on making some of the calls though. Just a note though, a TH needs to have their elbow down, it's not necessarily a sign they are collapsing. Is critical to controlling the LH's head. TH's manage control through closing space between their arm and head. Without that elbow down, keeping a narrow gap, it opens up the TH's chest and let's a LH come underneath into their sternum, that's game over against a quality LH.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Hey Jez, you don't think HJH might be building a "Temple to the Murphinator and his Linesmen"? A couple of penalties that I saw he got awarded yet it was his elbow that was the lowest and pulling down (Murphy was on other side of scrum so HJH likely got the linesman's blessing there). About the 50th minute, he got awarded one scrum penalty and as he turned away he smiled at a team-mate and rolled his eyes as if laughingly saying "I got away with one there!".
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
BigA, spot on. With the injury crisis (plus K.Beale suspension) Jorgenson has come in and played very well for a kid with no top-level rugby experience. The coach looked around for a fill-in fullback and Jorgenson had fb experience, so got the gig. His future looks really bright but at this stage he is in a league above his capabilities at this time. He runs really nicely with the ball, but still plays as that schoolboy superstar of "just give it to Jorgo and he'll score for us".
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
True that the word "messiah" was not used in this article. However read between the lines to gather the favoritism within it. Its the intent and words used in this article (and many others) compared to when describing B.Donaldson and other boys in sky blue, and when describing non-sky blue others. Honestly I roll my eyes when I constantly see this and I am a Tahs fan. I read the Roar articles to join others and comment on rugby in all of Australia, not to read glossy superlatives of all things Tah. And tbh that is my job as the President of the Them Noble Tahs (TNT) association. :silly:
jameswm
Roar Guru
Because that’s only part of the game.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Brumbies don't look unbeatable tbh. All that is needed is tahs clicking :laughing:
Guess
Roar Rookie
Yeah you said wilkin is more present. How can flanker that made only 6 tackles be more present?
rusty
Roar Rookie
que..................
cs
Roar Guru
Confidence isn't one of the kid's problems ... indeed, he might have a bit too much of it at this stage.
cs
Roar Guru
Except for the maroon bit ...
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
What if Hodgey didn't kick out on the full and deflate the Rebels right from the whistle for 2nd half. For christ's sake Hodgey !
Paul D
Roar Rookie
It’s always a chuckle when such poor grammar is used to question someone else’s English skills. :laughing:
rusty
Roar Rookie
So you failed English comprehension then?
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Angus didn't have his best game. I wasn't saying we needed any more ref's, only making an inference about Daemons sudden reffing improvements.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Stewart is not of sufficient quality though. I agree with your hypothesis / breakdown and reasoning though and would include Hodge over Paisami for the extra 10 cover. I should have ended my post with that rather than leaving it in the air, which may have implied I preferred Paisami.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Issue with Paisami is that he doesn’t bring you 10 cover. Stewart as suggested by Nick or Lolesio would be the two if you think there is enough cover elsewhere. For me Hodge’s versatility is the key. Or we scrimp on forwards and cover with two players.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Petaia and Kellaway do cover a lot of positions so you could leave out hodge if there was someone of real quality missing out. Who are the quality players left out? Best winger not selected Toole is one. But lots of talent already on the wing, he is really only competing with Koroibete as a strike winger at 11, he isn't a f/b, wing hybrid at 14 like Mark N and Petaia. Best centre not selected Paisami. He covers 12 and 13 and if you left out Hodge you need to cover 12. He would almost have to be the man to replace Hodge. Best f/b not selected Campbell. Have plenty of cover for f/b. It is arguable Hodge is a better at f/b for the wallabies depending on game plan anyway. So really it comes down to Hodge or Paisami for the last spot.
Rugbytrylover
Roar Rookie
Yes, Harrison I think is the best. Horan is very poor. Time to freshen up the panel.
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Sorry my grammar is poor at the best of times... i meant to say I have not a clue to how Eddie thinks.. and hence why you likely do know better how he thinks than I... a lot of people including Australian rugby fans like yourself woukd and do... I would like to think he wouldn't select Frost at blindside considering... anyway that aside, it does appear we are in agreement about Frost at lock :happy: