'The choker label, it was a tough one to sit with me for 12 months until I guess the World Cup': Stephen Donald opens up on how that one kick changed his life
Stephen Donald, otherwise known as “Beaver”, may have had one of the most turbulent careers in the history of All Blacks rugby.
While the flyhalf will forever go down in history as being the player who helped deliver the World Cup back to New Zealand in 2011 after a 24-year wait, he’d been heavily criticised for a performance in the black jersey a year earlier.
After the All Blacks lost to the Wallabies 26-24 in 2010’s Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong, where a young James O’Connor famously converted his own try from the sideline to win the match, Donald was seen as the villain of the piece.
Most notably, he came under fire for failing to find touch with a clearance kick.
Opening up on his career on Sky Sport NZ’s show, ‘Playmakers: Rugby Stories’, Donald sat down with former All Black Jeff Wilson and discussed one of the most eventual years in the history of anyone’s playing career.
“I know I’d had criticism my whole career but the criticism after Hong Kong was firstly, ‘he doesn’t deserve to be an All Black’, secondly, ‘he’s a choker.’ I’m not the most talented, never been the most talented person, But I worked hard to get where I got to be an All Black,” Donald said.
“When people start saying, ‘he never deserves to be an All Black’, it sort of cuts you. And then the choker thing, that really hurt me because I’d pride myself on plenty of times when kicks needed to go over, kicks it over.
“The thing about the Hong Kong thing that irks me is from a personal point of view is that I missed the goal kick sort of 15 in from touch, 20-odd out, that would’ve buried the game anyway. So I know everyone harps on about the missed touch and all the rest of it but it’s that goal kick that gutted me the most.
“The choker label, it was a tough one to sit with me for 12 months until I guess the World Cup.”
Following his performance in Hong Kong, both his playing career and everyday life had changed forever.
According to Donald, it’d gotten to the stage where the veteran of Waikato rugby had considered moving away from the country that he loves.
“It was getting to a point where I felt, and I love New Zealand – anyone who knows me knows I would not want to live anywhere else in the world.
“But it was getting to the point where, did I actually want to have to wear a hoodie and a hat every time I went to the supermarket or if I went for a beer somewhere, did I want to be tucked away further in the corner and try and avoid anyone. And it was getting to that point.”
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But following the 8-7 win over France, fans were calling for hid candidacy as Prime Minister at the victory parade in Auckland. He’s since had a movie called ‘The Kick’ made about him. While the criticism could never be taken back, Donald had made amends in the eyes of New Zealand rugby fans.
“It just opened up my life again and allowed me to not have to have a hoodie on in summer, and go to the supermarket, go to the pub in piece. That was the big thing for me…The most important thing is it got me a way of life back again and allowed me to have a bit of freedom in New Zealand again really.”
After firstly confirming that his playing days were “99 per cent, absolutely done”, Donald was asked by Jeff Wilson to reflect on what being an All Black means to him.
As he responded, “it means a hell of a lot more now than ever.”
“Without a doubt there’s things that I wish I’d done differently when I was in there, and experienced that on a older head I would’ve done things differently,” Donald told Wilson on Sky Sport NZ’s Playmakers: Rugby Stories. “It means a whole lot more to me now.”
“The intensity of it all, sometimes, especially back then, I think the boys probably have a better balance now but back then I don’t think certainly myself, didn’t actually stop and smell the roses a little bit and realise how good this is. And now you look back on [and] reflect, ‘yeah, very proud.’”
And when looking back on the “brutal, brutal environment” that he suggested the All Blacks could be for players, it didn’t seem to change his love and passion for the black jersey.
“I’d never moan about it because I would never for one moment not want to be an All Black. So if this is what I’ve got to pay the price for, then this is what I pay the price for.
“It’s not something I ever moaned about because I just thought that this is part of it and if I’m not living up to it, I’m not living up to it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
2 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
2 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to comments