- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Eddie Jones clearly doesn’t get it, and he won’t be the only one, after one of his 2023 project youth players had an instant impact at the World Cup.
After Ben Donaldson’s 25-point man of the match performance in the 35-15 win over Georgia in pool C, Jones was asked what he saw in the young fullback to have backed him from his very first camp of the year – and why the Waratahs have let him go.
Jones gave little away but mischievously repeated his thoughts from last week that Donno’s Randwick pedigree played a role.
“That he comes from Randwick mate, so he’s got a head start. I’m trying to pick other Randwick players but I can’t find them,” Jones joked.
“I think he’s a really, really good rugby player. I think he makes good decisions, he’s got a reasonably high level of decision making. And he’s got a pretty sound game at 10 or 15 in terms of his kicking.”
Donaldson acknowledges his Super Rugby form made it fortunate that Eddie picked him. Even though he was involved in Wallabies camps, the Waratahs made a call and allowed him to go to Western Force.
“I’m not sure what the Waratahs didn’t see in him, but that’s their business not mine,” Jones said.
“He trained the whole rugby championship at 15 because we had Quade and Carter training at ten so we knew what he was capable of.
“We felt in a game like that, where there’s going to be a lot of kicking because Georgia, play very similar to France, they’re a long kicking team. His long kick was invaluable. He’s a very good decision maker. And then his goal kicking was first class.”
Ben Donaldson of Australia celebrates following the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Georgia at Stade de France on September 09, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Ramos – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Jones has made tough call after tough call this season. Some might yet come back to haunt him – Carter Gordon seems to be still learning the gig at this level – but others, such as his faith in Will Skelton as leader, and bringing in Donaldson for Andrew Kellaway, have made a positive impact.
If it weren’t for Gordon’s kicking issues against France two weeks ago, Donaldson may not have had his chance to shine on the biggest stage.
Asked what impact Jones has had on him, Donaldson replied: “I didn’t have the best year in Super but to get the backing of him from the get go … he’s a world class coach so whenever he picks you in a squad, you feel like you’re doing something right.
“Just to have his backing meant the world to me and I worked even harder to put the faith back in him. And I’m just glad that we could put a performance out there tonight for him.”
Donaldson’s end to 2022 was bittersweet. He made his Wallabies debut but a missed kick late against Italy meant a narrow loss rather than a narrow victory. Who knows if that miss didn’t end up being the moment Dave Rennie was doomed as Wallabies coach?
“You can put your head down and dwell on it for a long time,” said Donaldson. “But I just took it as a learning curve. All goal kickers aren’t going to kick goals every time. I just went back and looked at it, kept working hard and probably worked harder .I was pretty pleased to slot some tonight.”
Ben Donaldson scores a try. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
No Wallabies fans needs reminding that the team was 0-5 this year. Was it sense of relief to break the duck?
“More so excitement,” Donaldson said. “We know we’re good enough to win any game we play, but we’re really excited.
“When you play a game like that, with a crowd like that, in a World Cup, it definitely gives you a big confidence boost.
“When you’re training with a squad like this, you’re always working so hard and getting the backing of the players and the coaches you’re always confident in yourself. It’s pleasing to come out and perform like that but more pleasing to get a result with the team after the past couple of games.”