Feature: New star on the horizon
Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:59
It would be tempting - not to mention very easy - to shine the spotlight on man-of-the-moment Dan Carter in the last of our Tri-Nations features. He was indeed one of the stand-out players in New Zealand's 28-24 tournament-clinching win over Australia at the weekend.
However, there is another young man who joined the All Black elite this year and has not wasted his golden opportunity.
Stephen Donald, who came on in the 50th minute as Carter moved to inside centre in place of Ma'a Nonu, has made an impact in each of his five appearances as a replacement since his debut against England in Auckland on June 14.
It is significant to note that Donald, who again made a huge impact with his creative play at a crucial stage in the decider in Brisbane at the weekend, has not lost a Test - a record that now reads: Played five, won five.
He did not feature in the All Blacks' Tri-Nations defeats in Dunedin and Sydney. Maybe there's a lesson in there for the All Black coaches.
Donald had a big hand in setting up the two tries which took the Kiwis clear in the final quarter in Brisbane. He showed, especially with Carter on his outside, that you don't need brute force to be effective and that guile can also do the trick.
Player of the Weekend: Stephen Donald is an energetic and reliable flyhalf, or first five-eight as they call them in New Zealand, and maybe he is ready to fill that utility role at inside centre (second five-eighth) that Aaron Mauger occupied for so long at the side of Dan Carter.
Donald, who moved to Waikato after two seasons with Counties Manukau and is now well-established in the No.10 jersey at Waikato, is extremely popular in Hamilton because of the accuracy of his passes and his kicks. He is one of the most prolific points scorers in New Zealand, scoring the most points in the 2007 Super 14 and the second most points in 2008, behind Carter.
He is a product of New Zealand’s age grade system, coming through the Schools and Under-21 teams, and became a veteran member of the Junior All Blacks, with three seasons in the side.
Brief bio of Stephen Donald:
Position: First Five-Eighths (No.10)
Born: 03/12/1983, Papakura
Physical: 1.86m, 96kg
Test career:
Tests: Five
Test Points: 21
New Zealand representative teams:
New Zealand Schools in 2002
New Zealand Under-21 in 2002, 2003
Junior All Blacks from 2005 to 2007
All Blacks in 2008
Province: Waikato
Provincial Caps: 60
Provincial Points: 487 (21 tries, 95 conversions, 63 penalties, 1 drop-goal)
Provincial Debut: 2002 v Auckland (for Counties Manukau)
Super 14 Team: Chiefs
Super Rugby Caps: 47
Super Rugby Points: 468 (13 tries, 74 conversions, 84 penalties,
1 drop-goal)
Super Rugby Debut: 2005 v Waratahs
Villain of the Weekend: I probably won't be allowed through customs the next time I try to enter Australia, by I simply think their props are mostly fakes. This week Al Baxter wins my award for the biggest villain, following his blatant attempts at cheating in the Brisbane decider. The scrums are always a mess with the grunting prop and early on you could see how he blatantly went to ground to disrupt the Kiwis. Like those other 'famous' Aussie props - Bill Young and Matt Dunning - he remains a blight on the art of scrumming. It doesn't surprise me that the Wallabies want to de-power the scrums with their constant meddling with the rules to turn it into a Rugby League style game.
Disappointment of the Weekend: Ali Williams is such a talented player, but he lost his way a bit at the weekend. He gave away an early penalty and then carried on with it. He also knocked the ball on with try-scoring chance just 10 metres out. He should concentrate on his own game a bit more and stop trying to 'niggle' the opposition.
Try of the Weekend: The Wallabies did get something out of the encounter in Brisbane and indeed the tournament itself - the emergence of Ryan Cross as a new midfield star. But it was his 78th minute try that put the game back in the melting pot that gets our award. Giteau and Cross produced a moment of magic ... the moment of the match. From a scrum Cross cut back. There was a black wall ahead of him, but somehow the tall centre broke through it - through McCaw and So'oialo and on towards the line where Thorn, Crater and Kahui grabbed him, but on he ploughed to get the ball down for a brilliant try.
Quote of the (last) Week:
Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau, when asked whether he felt they would target his channel: "It's a Test. I won't be there in a dinner suit. You've got to make your
tackles."
Fact(s) of the Week:
New Zealand, who have held the Tri-Nations title since 2005, have won the Southern Hemisphere's grand prize nine time in 13 tournaments, with Australia and South Africa's (two each) total together not even half of the Kiwis' titles. Of their 56 Tri-Nations Tests they have won 39 (a 69.6 percent winning margin), while they have won 23 of their 28 home Tests in the tournament for a 82.1 percent win ratio. That is called total dominance.
(Stats, courtesy of pickandgo.info - rugby365's official stats partner)
Noteworthy stat(s):
The scrumming in matches involving Australia are always sloppy problems.
* In the first Tri-Nations match, between New Zealand and South Africa, the scrums were 23, 2 resets, 3 collapses.
* In the second Tri-Nations match, between New Zealand and South Africa, the scrums were 13, 1 reset, 3 collapses.
* In the third Tri-Nations match, between Australia and South Africa, the scrums were 23, 10 reset, 16 collapses.
* In the fourth Tri-Nations match, between Australia and New Zealand, the scrums were 16, 6 reset, 13 collapses.
* In the fifth Tri-Nations match, between New Zealand and Australia, the scrums were 11, 7 resets, 12 collapses.
* In the sixth Tri-Nations match, between South Africa and New Zealand, the scrums were 24, 5 resets, 2 collapses.
* In the seventh Tri-Nations match, between Australia and South Africa, the scrums were 18, 3 reset, 5 collapses.
* In the eighth Tri-Nations match, between Australia and South Africa, the scrums were 16, 7 reset, 6 collapses.
* In the ninth Tri-Nations match, between Australia and New Zealand, the scrums were 16, 7 reset, 13 collapses.
(The last set of stats is courtesy of Paul Dobson)
What awards would you give? Email us your awards, good or bad!
By Jan de Koning
