is stephen donald the worst all black of all time?

[ghettodan]

last saturdays performance was, as per usual, **** poor! he would definately be captain of nz's worst 15

 

[William18]

Be that as it may, Donald tries 100% and is probably one of my favourite All Blacks. You are being way too harsh on a guy who always tries his guts out.

 

[jawmalawm24]

I don't like him personally but you got to give him credit because he's trying to compete with Dan Carter whos probably the best 1st 5 the All Blacks have ever had.

 

[danger]

Nowhere close to the worst ever. He lead his team to 2nd in the super 14. Maybe if his backs had some depth to work with..

 

[gingergenius]

Donald is about as good as Toby Flood.

read into this what you like.

 

[Flux]

I'm sure anyone who was handed a black jersey when they probably weren't good enough to wear it would try 100%. Unfortunately for Donald, trying so hard is working for him. Maybe he didn't try so much, he'd play better.

To answer the question, however, he is far from the worst All Black ever. He's not great, but he isn't that awful.

 

[Fa'atau82]

Donald is good, but hasn't grown into a world class 10 yet. He is not a bad player at all, he just isn't lethal enough to be starting 10 by choice over Carter. It will come with time. Just like Carter was second fiddle to Spencer/Mehrtens for eons, you earn the stripe, rather than have it given to you.

 

[Randwick Kingfisher]

I dont think there is a really bad all black but I must say that of all the 1st fives we've had he'd be near the bottom (i think Grant Fox was better). Donald does struggle in internationals the tri-nations in particular. He is quite a strong runner but his chips, grubbers are just turnovers to say the least. Make bad choices now and then. Unless he starts playing his position more smoothly he'll end up fading out to the likes of McAllister and co.

 

[Ripper]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fa'atau82 @ Sep 20 2009, 02:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Donald is good, but hasn't grown into a world class 10 yet. He is not a bad player at all, he just isn't lethal enough to be starting 10 by choice over Carter. It will come with time. Just like Carter was second fiddle to Spencer/Mehrtens for eons, you earn the stripe, rather than have it given to you.[/b]

Eons? lol, try 18 months.

 

[Nickdnz]

I don't think he is a great player in general, you can't blame everyone else in the backs for the mistakes he makes, especially when Carter fixed these mistakes pretty quick. I don't think he is a very good #10, and I would rate several NZ 1st 5's over him, he is more a product of limited options then anything else. He does try hard, and it must be very hard being the replacment of Daniel Carter, however he seems to be one of those players that are good in the Super 14, but can't make the lead in standards to play well internationally. One thing that he constantly does wrong, is he often tries to crash it up himself rather then playing a more pivitol roll, which is what you need as a 1st 5. I just hope Nick Evans comes back in time for the world cup as if Carter is injured, we will lose it, it is that simple. I think even if he does improve, he is not that young, and people like Robbie Robinson and Aaron Cruden will overtake Donald in the next 2-3 years.

 

[kaiauakid]

Worst All Black???....give me his left leg and I'll dominate the Waitakaruru football field for the next 30 years.....till I'm 83 yo! on one leg and all! He's an All Black. Not crash hot, but hey, he'll be getting free beers at the pub for the next 30 years while you and I sit in the corner watching him and we're sucking on a cuppa tea! with no teeth! AND, he will have a right to wear his black shirt 40 years from now. How do I know this? my cousin is Waka Nathan. I have to get in line just to say hello to him, even if I see him on the street at Twickers! wear a black shirt a few times and there are still lines of people wanting to shake your hand. And Waka's been gone nigh on what? 30? 40 years??? stands the test of time. Whether you're the worst or the best,.......you wore the shirt. I didn't. Onya.

 

[Nickdnz]

The question is if he deserves to wear the shirt, not the fame that comes with it...

 

[psychic duck]

I don't think he is a great player in general, you can't blame everyone else in the backs for the mistakes he makes, especially when Carter fixed these mistakes pretty quick. I don't think he is a very good #10, and I would rate several NZ 1st 5's over him, he is more a product of limited options then anything else. He does try hard, and it must be very hard being the replacment of Daniel Carter, however he seems to be one of those players that are good in the Super 14, but can't make the lead in standards to play well internationally. One thing that he constantly does wrong, is he often tries to crash it up himself rather then playing a more pivitol roll, which is what you need as a 1st 5. I just hope Nick Evans comes back in time for the world cup as if Carter is injured, we will lose it, it is that simple. I think even if he does improve, he is not that young, and people like Robbie Robinson and Aaron Cruden will overtake Donald in the next 2-3 years.

How wrong you were.

 

[nickdnz]

How wrong you were.

Haha - that post has taken three years to come back to haunt me. My god you buy your time.

I was indeed wrong. He came on the field and we only narrowed a 5 point lead to a 1 point. Stellar effort. I was correct in saying that Aaron Cruden would overtake Donald however.

Que Larksea.

 

[Draggs]

Haha - that post has taken three years to come back to haunt me. My god you buy your time.

I was indeed wrong. He came on the field and we only narrowed a 5 point lead to a 1 point. Stellar effort. I was correct in saying that Aaron Cruden would overtake Donald however.

Que Larksea.

How about Robbie Robinson?

I love Donald threads. There are two types of posts in them; a) Donald is the worst All Black ever. He sucks, etc. b) WORLD CUP 2011!!! lolololo

Also, Donald must be the most New Zealand-sounding person in existence.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

At least he's actually a kiwi, unlike the rest of the All Blacks.

 

[nickdnz]

How about Robbie Robinson?
I love Donald threads. There are two types of posts in them; a) Donald is the worst All Black ever. He sucks, etc. b) WORLD CUP 2011!!! lolololo
Also, Donald must be the most New Zealand-sounding person in existence.

Haha - I'd have him in the team over Donald. He's a much better fullback mind you. I've at least been consistent - I was of course happy we won the World Cup, and pleased Donald didn't screw up so much to make us lose (to suggest he was great like Larksea does is way over the top - he kicked a penalty and didn't miss too many tackles. Still can't run a game to save his life). He does indeed sound like a kiwi.

At least he's actually a kiwi, unlike the rest of the All Blacks.

Mmmm. Kiwi's don't even get a look in at the All Blacks anymore. Have to resign to a B&I Lions Jersey.

 

[Draggs]

At least he's actually a kiwi, unlike the rest of the All Blacks.

Assumed player flowchart
Samoa/Fiji/Tonga-> New Zealand [decent players stay] -> England/Samoa

See, the problem is that we poach the best English-born players like Lydiate, Cuthbert, Charteris. ****ing Welsh ********. Let's kill them! (Opens windows)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Assumed player flowchart
Samoa/Fiji/Tonga-> New Zealand [decent players stay] -> England/Samoa

See, the problem is that we poach the best English-born players like Lydiate, Cuthbert, Charteris. ****ing Welsh ********. Let's kill them! (Opens windows)

You missed the other steps:

Samoa/Fiji/Tonga-> New Zealand [decent players stay] -> England/Samoa -> Wales -> Ireland -> Scotland -> Italy

 

[Draggs]

You missed the other steps:

Samoa/Fiji/Tonga-> New Zealand [decent players stay] -> England/Samoa -> Wales -> Ireland -> Scotland -> Italy

What Welsh players go to Ireland?
Forgot this as well: Everybody -> Scotland