For the second time in less than 12 months, Ben Donaldson is poised to play against Georgia – but the circumstances surrounding his looming selection are chalk and cheese compared to when he took the field against the European nation last year in Paris.
When The Roar broke the news that Donaldson was poised to start in the No.15 jersey against Georgia in the Wallabies’ World Cup opener at the Stade de France, jaws dropped.
After not playing a minute of The Rugby Championship, Eddie Jones dropped yet another selection bombshell by starting Donaldson at fullback. Andrew Kellaway, the favourite to wear the No.15 jersey, wasn’t even in the matchday 23.
Instead, Donaldson would partner Carter Gordon for the first time.
The decision initially worked a treat, with Donaldson and Gordon combining spectacularly to end the Wallabies’ winless start to 2023 by knocking over Georgia 35-15.
Carter Gordon celebrates with Ben Donaldson after combining to score against Georgia at the Stade de France in the Wallabies’ World Cup opener in Paris. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Donaldson finished with 25 points that afternoon, including two tries – the most points by a Wallaby in a Test since Bernard Foley’s 28-point haul against England at the 2015 World Cup.
How times have changed since that repressive, hot day in the French capital.
Jones has long gone, while Gordon has too.
“Last year wasn’t the greatest year for us, but I’m grateful to be here in this spot at the moment,” Donaldson said on Monday, barely wanting to touch on his day out on the world’s stage.
On Saturday, Donaldson is expected to feature against Georgia, who are fresh from downing Eddie Jones’ Japan side for only the second time, when the Wallabies host the rising European nation in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
Can the Western Force playmaker draw inspiration from last year’s World Cup win as the Wallabies look to continue their rebuild under Joe Schmidt?
“There’s definitely a bit of confidence there,” Donaldson said.
“Georgia is a bit of an unknown team. You don’t really get to play them that often.
“Playing them last year, you get a bit of an insight on how they play, some of their players.
“It was not a convincing win last year, but we can take a little bit of confidence out of that.”
Ben Donaldson on his way to his first World Cup try after running onto a stunning ball from Taniela Tupou against Georgia in Paris. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
The smiles and sheer relief on the faces of Donaldson and Gordon were on display at the Stade de France when the latter was put through a hole by a sumptuous cutout pass from the new Gold Coast Titans playmaker.
Moments before his match-winning try, another bit of individual bit of magic from Taniela Tupou saw Donaldson show his rapid speed as he burst onto the giant tight-head prop’s cheeky overhead pass to score the first of two second-half five-pointers.
At the time, the moment went viral.
For now, Tupou hasn’t yet brought it up.
“No, he hasn’t showed it for a while,” Donaldson said. “He definitely spoke about it throughout the World Cup last year, that’s for sure.
“But yeah, ‘Nella’s’ a freakish player.
“He’s been awesome this year for us so far in the scrum and his carries.
“When he does that kind of stuff as well, it just shows the kind of athlete he is.
“It’s exciting playing behind a forward like that, and hopefully he can produce something like that this week.”
Unlike ten months ago, Donaldson isn’t likely to feature in the No.15 jersey this Saturday but could come into the reckoning to start in the No.10 role.
Donaldson revealed he had only been training at fly-half in a three-horse battle with Noah Lolesio and Tom Lynagh, whose spot the Force playmaker took on the bench after the young Queenslander pulled up tight in his hamstring following his debut.
“We’ve all been rotating in and out there,” Donaldson said. “And we’ve got ‘Kels’ and Tommy Wright at fullback, who are both exceptional players.”
After playing his first Test on home soil off the bench during the Wallabies’ 36-28 win over Wales last weekend in Melbourne, Donaldson said lining up in Sydney would be a dream come true after playing his first seven matches in gold on foreign soil.
“To hopefully get an opportunity this week in Sydney, where I grew up, where I watched the Wallabies and teams like that play, it’d be very special,” the 24-year-old said.
“I’ll just go about my business today, keep preparing hard with the boys. If I’m in it, I’ll be very excited and it would be a pretty cool opportunity.”
Schmidt is expected to make several changes to his side, with the Test against the world No.14 the last opportunity to see his wider squad in a match before their Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks.
“There probably will be a couple of changes,” Schmidt hinted following their eight-point win on Saturday.
“We made five changes this week and there could be that many again.
“You’re trying to build cohesion.
“It’s a little bit of a different or difficult equilibrium that you’re trying to find between that continuation of confidence and continuity and then offering opportunity.”
Joe Schmidt (C) is expected to make changes to his side for the Wallabies’ home Test against Georgia on Saturday in Sydney. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Despite the Wallabies approaching the Test in the context of the matches to come, including next year’s Lions series, Donaldson said they were preparing for a tough encounter.
“Test match rugby, whoever you’re playing, it’s going to be a tough game, afternoon game, so there should be some good footy played,” he said.
“Georgia are a team that’s on the rise.
“They’ve had some good results. They beat Japan on the weekend, some big results last year as well.
“Most of their forwards are already playing in Europe. Their fullback, Davit Niniashvili, he’s a freakish player. Their ten [Luka Matkava] as well is a very good player.
“They’re putting in some good performances and it’s something that we looked at this morning in the backs.
“We’re going to have to nullify some of their threats and hopefully we can do that.”