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Ben Donaldson has revealed one of the secrets behind his outstanding Super Rugby form and imminent return to the Wallabies: the hulking thighs of an Auckland-raised “street fighter”.
Donaldson is poised for a recall to the Wallabies team to play Ireland on July 4 in the latest episode of a rollercoaster international career.
The 27-year-old Western Force pivot was selected to steer the ship as one of only two five-eighths at the 2023 World Cup and came off the Wallabies’ bench for all three Lions Tests in 2025 – but just a few months later was dropped entirely and missed the spring tour squad.
Coach Joe Schmidt gave Donaldson a handful of “work ons” to earn his way back, and along with being consistent in games and at training, the biggest request was to get more physical.
“Just around the contact area and the contest area,” Donaldson explained. “Whether that’s high ball – so a lot of that’s in the air, really being big in the air, being brave. And then just around the contact area as well, throwing your body around, making your tackles.”
Step forward Vaiolini Ekuasi, the 107kg No.8 at the Western Force known for his strength and power.
When Ekuasi joined the Force in 2024, coach Simon Cron said he was the street fighter the team needed: “When he hits people, they stay hit.”
So in the same manner as Berrick Barnes did as a skinny teenager at the Broncos when he asked Shane Webcke to run at him at training, Cron had Donaldson start doing regular run-it-straight sessions with Ekuasi.
“We got the same feedback about Donno, so I said ‘Mate let’s get you back there, this is how it’s going to work: I am going to line Vai up, he’s our biggest and strongest’,” Cron said.
“‘We’ll get him running and if you are comfortable tackling Vai, you should comfortable tackling just about anyone’. At international level, there are going to be ‘Vais’.”
After a soft-ish runs, Ekuasi was ordered by Cron to wind up.
“He was running pretty hard at me,” Donaldson said. “I was putting a few shots on him. I guess that’s the only way you get better, right, tackling blokes who are one bigger than you? There’s no point doing extras with blokes in your position or smaller than you – you’re probably not going to get better.”
The summer slog paid dividends, and set up the 27-year-old for the most consistent, and assertive, Super Rugby season of his career. Within a few weeks, most pundits began forecasting Donaldson should be straight back into the Wallabies for the July Tests against Ireland, France and Italy, and last week Schmidt agreed, selecting him as one of three No.10s, along with Carter Gordon and uncapped Brumbies playmaker Declan Meredith.
Donaldson said being dropped, and the honest feedback attached, helped him become a better player.
“Missing out does make you question a few things, but it was probably the best thing for me,” he said.
“As much as you want to be in these squads all the time, sometimes things don’t go your way. And it’s just how you react. Personally, I feel like I reacted quite well to it.
“Leading into this year, I just wanted to be more consistent. Drive the team around and just try not to overthink things. I think that mindset helped me.”
Donaldson has always been a triple-threat playmaker, with strong run, pass and kick options. But the thoughtful Randwick junior also suffered from bouts of self-doubt early in his career; a trait not suited to being the rock star quarterback at No.10.
But with years of practising the craft, and consistent game time at the Force after being let go by home state NSW in 2024, Donaldson has matured into a confident and resilient playmaker who knows his game. He is now Australia’s most experienced No.10, with 20 Test caps and 78 Super Rugby games.
“Once you get a bit older, you play a bit more, you’re in these squads, you’re playing more footy, you’re on the field,” he said. “It gives me confidence, gives the boys confidence and gives the coaches confidence. Especially as a No.10, you’re probably only going to get better and gain experience if you’re out there playing.
“I think I’m in a pretty good position to hopefully start and hopefully dominate as well.”
Gordon and Donaldson, who will vie for the starting spot against Ireland, are reunited for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, where they were thrown in the furnace as young playmakers by Eddie Jones.
“It wasn’t the greatest experience for either of us, but with experience you gain knowledge,” he said. “To be honest, I think we are better players for it now.”
