All Blacks: Long slog to wear the black jersey

Tom Donnelly has a reputation for being good in the air. Photo / Mark Mitchell

As a 27-year-old lock, Tom Donnelly thought his chance at the black jersey had probably gone.

He had made the Juniors and been on occasional standby duty but it still looked a long slog to make it into the test squad.

Even when Ali Williams and Anthony Boric were injured, the selectors had plumped for other rookies like Isaac Ross and Bryn Evans while Jason Eaton was also back in the mix.

However Donnelly was named yesterday to partner Brad Thorn in Saturday's final domestic test against the Wallabies in Wellington as the selectors looked to invigorate their pack.

Donnelly discovered his fate at a team meeting yesterday just before the side left to go to training.

"There were a few things flying round in my head," he admitted, "but once I got back on to the paddock and started doing a few lineouts it was pretty easy."

His elevation, explained forwards coach Steve Hansen, was because of the wear-and-tear effects on Ross in his debut season and the need to stimulate some more energy in the pack.

Donnelly leapfrogged Eaton while Evans has joined Williams on long-term convalescence after surgery.

For Donnelly, his elevation justified his decision to stay in New Zealand a few years ago and chase the All Black jersey instead of taking up a lucrative overseas contract.

But it has been a struggle.

"I got uptight about it and at the start of the year decided to forget it and just play," he said.

"It seems to have worked out."

Donnelly enjoys lineouts and will be looking to connect well with throws from hooker Andrew Hore as they did when they first played together in a trial game in Otago in 2000.

"It is part of the game I really enjoy and thrive on, so it is a great opportunity for me to show what I can do and we'll see if I can help out at all," he said.

Donnelly has played Super 14 rugby against Wallaby locks Mark Chisholm and James Horwill and rates the former as a very strong lineout exponent.