\u201cThat he comes from Randwick, mate,\u201d said Jones, a former player at the famous Sydney club. \u201cHe\u2019s got a head start. I\u2019m trying to pick other Randwick players but I can\u2019t find them at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was, of course, some tongue in cheek in those remarks but for a national coach who is supposed to be impartial when it comes to selection, Jones loves bringing up the Galloping Greens, who recently won a drought-breaking Shute Shield.<\/p>\n
But next year, Donaldson won\u2019t be at Randwick. He won\u2019t even be at the Waratahs.<\/p>\n
With a glut of playmakers, NSW elected to not re-sign the 24-year-old for next year \u2013 Donaldson is off to the Western Force \u2013 and Jones seemed a little surprised following a tur<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
New Wallabies fullback Ben Donaldson starred in the Wallabies win.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n He has consistently backed Donaldson, even after the NSW representative\u2019s middling Super Rugby season.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not sure what the Waratahs didn\u2019t see in him. That\u2019s their business, not mine,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s a really, really good rugby player.\u201d<\/p>\n After scoring more than 70 per cent of Australia\u2019s points at Stade de France in their must-win World Cup opener, Jones lauded Donaldson\u2019s goal-kicking and decision-making under pressure.<\/p>\n This was Donaldson\u2019s second start from four Tests and maiden appearance at fullback.<\/p>\n It was a bold selection call that paid dividends.<\/p>\n According to rugby statistician Matthew Alverez, <\/b>Donaldson\u2019s 25 individual points are the most for the Wallabies since Bernard Foley chalked up 28 in a 33-13 win over England at the 2015 World Cup.<\/p>\n That was 96 Tests ago.<\/p>\n Furthermore, Donaldson has equalled Matt Burke\u2019s record for the most points scored by a Wallabies fullback in a World Cup fixture.<\/p>\n Mat Rogers (42 points against Namibia in 2003), Elton Flatley (30 points against Romania in 2003) and Matt Giteau (27 points against Fiji in 2007) have all scored more at World Cups, albeit in different positions.<\/p>\n Bernard Foley was among the Wallabies\u2019 best as they surprised many by reaching the World Cup final in 2015.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cIt felt very good,\u201d Donaldson said. \u201cIt was my first game in a while starting, so pretty pleased with my performance but overall a win for the boys in the first game of the World Cup against a tough Georgian side was the most pleasing thing.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t have the best year in Super [Rugby] but to get the backing from him [Jones] \u2026 just means the world for me and it meant I worked even harder to put the faith back in him. I\u2019m just glad we put a performance out there for him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty confident in that position. We work so hard at goal-kicking in general. To be able to get the backing tonight and come out and execute is really pleasing.\u201d<\/p>\n Donaldson was picked at No.15 – ahead of Andrew Kellaway – due to Carter Gordon\u2019s inaccuracy with the boot against France.<\/p>\n Nailing six from seven attempts at goal on the weekend has strengthened Donaldson\u2019s case to keep his spot for next Sunday\u2019s fixture with Fiji.<\/p>\n \u201cWe knew what he was capable of,\u201d Jones said. \u201cHis long kick was invaluable. He is a very good decision-maker. His goal-kicking was first-class.<\/p>\n \u201cI think every time you get down there [in your opponents\u2019 end] you want to get points. That\u2019s what Test match rugby is about. The leadership of Will [Skelton] was first class and Donno did his job.\u201d<\/p>\n Donaldson was quick to point out that others made him look good. Taniela Tupou\u2019s inch-perfect pass, which came from an intercept, helped Donaldson streak away for a maiden Test try, while Gordon\u2019s beautiful left-to-right pass put the Australian fullback into a big hole in Georgia\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n At a time when Wallabies wins have not been easy to come by, players do not want to get carried away by the Georgia result. Difficult and pool-defining assignments against Fiji and Wales (September 24) await the men in gold.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only one win so far. We keep working and get back on the horse,\u201d Donaldson said. \u201cWe know we\u2019re good enough to win any game we play, so the boys are really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe had a game plan. We\u2019ve been building for a long time now and the boys executed really well for the full 80 minutes. It made me look half-decent, so I put that on all the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, <\/b>Stan Sport<\/b>. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.<\/b><\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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