Better late than never for All Blacks lock

BY TOBY ROBSON IN MARSEILLE

Tom Donnelly is the baby of the All Blacks test pack.

With five caps to his name, the end-of-year tour has been an initiation of sorts for a player who has worked harder than most to get to the top.

He's a guy most rugby fans know little of. He was seen by many as a fill-in when he made his debut against Australia in September, someone to fix the lineout until Ali Williams returned and Isaac Ross bulked up.

Week by week though Donnelly is changing minds, the 2m, 113kg giant establishing himself as one of those reliable test forwards that don't come along all that often.

It's easy to get the impression the Otago lock is one of those hard southern men. In fact he's from Rotorua, and his quietness comes more from the fact that he's still in awe of packing down scrums alongside Brad Thorn and singing the national anthem with Dan Carter.

"I am pinching myself," Donnelly smiled this week after being named to play France on Sunday. "I came on against Wales and we had a defensive lineout about five metres out and the crowd was screaming. I couldn't hear anything, I was panicking and thinking `jeez I don't want to be here'."

HERE'S the thing about Donnelly that is perhaps his biggest advantage.

At 28, he's not about to let his chance go begging. Donnelly made his provincial debut in 2002 and took two years to earn a Highlanders' callup and another five to make the All Blacks.

In other words, he's worked damned hard to get here and plans to soak up every moment.

"I just came on tour to enjoy my footy and try not to worry too much about the pressures and get used to playing in front of big crowds.

"The first couple of tests during the anthems I've just sort of mumbled away and not really sung much, but at Twickenham I was standing next to Dan Carter and he was absolutely roaring it out. That was awesome to hear, just that atmosphere – you start to enjoy playing in it.

"The last couple of weeks it's been different. It feels almost like they're [the crowd] challenging you and it makes you lift. You just want to be there."

ONE OF the biggest buzzes for Donnelly has been training and playing with Thorn, someone he says everyone in the squad looks up to.

"He's the Mecca. You go around him and he has this aura we all feed off. He's like a kid because he is so excited every time he puts the jersey on.

"He's getting on in age now, but when he goes out and plays it's an inspiration. I grew up watching him play league for the Broncos and being a fan, just to talk to him is awesome.

"He's so down to earth and really makes you want to play better. I've learned from him that you have to work all the time. In this environment if you aren't on the money all the time you end up on the back foot.

"Thorny is a classic. You see him working so hard all the time in the games and you want to try and be there to back him up."

Donnelly knows Williams and Ross will be nipping at his heels next year. But after plugging away in the provincial ranks for so long, he has learned there is no point in stressing over who is doing what.

"I realise there are a couple of other locks who probably could be here, so once this finishes I'll have to reassess," he says.

"I'm just going to try to enjoy footy. That's the key for me, not worrying about it. I have to play well to get back in the All Blacks."

SO TOM, TELL US ABOUT ...

Q: Where'd you get the nickname Sassy?

A: Why did you put that one in? It just came from looking like a big sasquatch. I went through a bit of a phase where I had long hair and a beard. It came from the old Highlanders development days – I think it was someone like Clarke Dermody. I don't mind too much now, but at the start it was a bit of a battle.

Q. Have you learned any French or Italian on tour?

A. Parlez-vous Anglais? Nah, just the basics really. I enjoyed Milan a lot. At first I was a bit hesitant, but once we'd been there a while it was quite cool. The beaches here are pretty nice.

Q. Who have been your best and worst roomy, and why?

A. Tony Woodcock would probably be the best, just 'cos we are like-minded people. We had a lot to talk about. No hassles with Tony. I haven't really got worst cos they've all been bloody good. I had Brad Thorn, which was just awesome, I had Neyza [Neemia Tialata]. He's twittering all hours of the night.

Q. Where would you sit if there was a tour table tennis ranking list?

A. Thirty-three players on tour, so I'd be ranked about 30. I beat John Afoa the other day, which was my first victory on tour. I beat him twice in a row which was good. Probably the best guy would be Ben Smith, or the physios. Andy Ellis is terrible. Afoa would be 31, Brad Thorn, you don't see him at the table much, so he's 32 and I'd back myself to take down Andrew Hore as well.

Q. If you weren't an All Black, what would you be doing?

A. I'd be using my surveying degree somewhere. I've done a bit of work but it's tough with rugby. Either that or a marine mechanic, fixing up boats.

Q. What's been the highlight of the tour away from rugby?

A. The duomo [cathedral] in Milan was pretty awesome. We haven't seen that many sights, but a lot of gyms and training fields.

Q. Best thing about being so tall?

A. Being able to grab stuff off the highest shelf and being able to spot people in crowds.

Q. Music you'd play on the bus if you could?

A. My drink, my drink. It's a great song, but I'm not sure who it's by. Either that or Johnny Cash.

Q. Worst thing about touring?

A. Being away from home, living out of a suitcase and not being able to eat when you want to eat. There's always food available, but you have to eat the main meals on schedule even if you aren't hungry just because you need it for training.

Q. Best thing about touring?

A. Hanging around with guys like Adam Thomson, seeing parts of the world you wouldn't otherwise get to see.

- © Fairfax NZ News