Bath have signed New Zealand fly-half Stephen Donald

[Conal]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/13704603.stm

Bath have signed New Zealand fly-half Stephen Donald, BBC Sport understands.
The 27-year-old is believed to have signed a two-and-half-year contract and will arrive at the Premiership outfit in November.

He has 22 caps and is expected to be part of the All Blacks World Cup squad, which is announced in July.

Donald, whose contract with Super 15 side Chiefs expires this year, is seen as a direct replacement for the Butch James who left Bath this season.

At 6ft 3in and almost 100kgs he will match the physicality of the departed the Springbok who spent four seasons at the Rec.

Since James announced his departure in February, Bath have been linked with Donald's All Black team-mate Dan Carter, who committed himself to the New Zealand Rugby Union for another four years last month, and troubled England international Danny Cipriani.

And a trip to South Africa by director of rugby Sir Ian McGeechan to meet Donald while he was touring with the Chiefs sparked rumours that Mornie Steyn might be the next Springbok to grace the Recreation Ground.

However, it is understood the Kiwi has been their main target for the last few months.

By moving to Europe, Donald will sacrifice his place in the All Blacks side.

best signing since tony buckley for sale!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Aye all the talk has been in the transfer thread about it.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I don't think he offers his AB spot at all.

 

[Darwin]

Good signing for Bath. Despite being much maligned, he is generally a very good player at this level. He's apparently a well liked guy as well; he spends a lot of his spare time coaching his local club team.

 

[Feicarsinn]

As a Leinster fan, this makes me very happy. Looking forward to Sexto handing him his arse next year.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Despite the criticism he frequently gets, he'll still be one of the best flyhalves playing in Europe next season.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Despite the criticism he frequently gets, he'll still be one of the best flyhalves playing in Europe next season.

Disagree. Trinh Duc, Flood, Wilkinson, James, Evans, Sexton, Hook and Hodgeson are all better players imo.

 

[iWin]

Not the worst signing, tbh, but they definitely could have done better.

 

[Darwin]

Despite the criticism he frequently gets, he'll still be one of the best flyhalves playing in Europe next season.

I agree... I think a lot of people are going to be surprised how good he is.

Not the worst signing, tbh, but they definitely could have done better.

Who else was available that would have been better?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Disagree. Trinh Duc, Flood, Wilkinson, James, Evans, Sexton, Hook and Hodgeson are all better players imo.

He's better than Hodgson and Wilkinson and possibly not as good as Skrela on a good day. Other than that I agree with your list. Donald will easily be one of the top 10 flyhalves in Europe. He's better than what Bath currently have and is a good signing.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

He's better than Hodgson and Wilkinson and possibly not as good as Skrela on a good day. Other than that I agree with your list. Donald will easily be one of the top 10 flyhalves in Europe. He's better than what Bath currently have and is a good signing.

Top 10 in Europe isn't exactly great: Sexton, O'Gara, Trinh Duc, Flood, Hook, Jones, Evans, Skrela, Br.James and Wilkinson were probably this years best and getting further down the list players are either average or past it.

 

[Gavin]

Top 10 in Europe isn't exactly great: Sexton, O'Gara, Trinh Duc, Flood, Hook, Jones, Evans, Skrela, Br.James and Wilkinson were probably this years best and getting further down the list players are either average or past it.

Better than the Top 10 in the southern hemisphere

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Aw sad to see him go, he was a great player for the Chiefs and Waikato, he just never really stepped up to international level - I expect he'll turn a few heads in Europe!

 

[Teh Mite]

Better than the Top 10 in the southern hemisphere

Good 10's in rugby:

1. Carter
2. -
3. -
4. -
5. Evans
6. -
7. -
8. -
9. -
...
1000. Sexton
1001...

Think it says more about how over-rated fly halfs are full stop. Carter is a class apart, Evans would be nearly as good if Carter hadn't been in the way, Sexton is pretty slick but the rest are either **** or shitter.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Good 10's in rugby:

1. Carter
2. -
3. -
4. -
5. Evans
6. -
7. -
8. -
9. -
...
1000. Sexton
1001...

Think it says more about how over-rated fly halfs are full stop. Carter is a class apart, Evans would be nearly as good if Carter hadn't been in the way, Sexton is pretty slick but the rest are either **** or shitter.

Quade Cooper?

 

[Teh Mite]

Poor mans Carlos Spencer.

 

[m0rris]

Not too bad a signing, personally I hope/feel he could do well at club level in the Prem, as for against Leinster the most of Bath team will have their behinds served to them on a silver platter, we've got some right sh*te in the squad and a massive changeabout in the squad over the summer.

As for other fly-halves better in NH... I'll object to Flood (of late) due to horrific form and Sexton, he isn't bad but I spent the six nations in Ireland and until the England game the most common cry from the drunken masses seemed to be "f***ing Sexton" - he is a future talent but will never be a patch on O'Gara in his day.

Bullitt you've hit the nail on the head, FHs are consistently the most overrated players in the squad. They get impressive points tallies but 75% of it is through forward won penalties , oppo misconduct and converting other peoples tries. Carter does equal a rugby god though.

m0rris

 

[ranger]

Looking forward to see him play in the NH, ive always said that he would do well up there.

 

[Logorrhea]

I'd say he'll be a reasonably good signing for them, god knows they need a bit of quality.

More importantly, it'll give the Sky Sports team something to wet their pants about.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

10. Stephen Donald
12. Matt Banahan

It'll be a veritable jizz-fest for them