Rugby: Donnelly looks forward to confronting former teammates

Tom Donnelly will face his former side the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

It is perhaps appropriate that new Crusader Tom Donnelly is hoping to build on a growing reputation against his former team at a stadium sponsored by an investment company.

Donnelly has impressed at the Crusaders and has several ticks in the credit column already. He was seen by coach Todd Blackadder as the perfect replacement for Brad Thorn and his lineout work in his new team's 19-18 victory over the Blues at Eden Park showed why.

Blues coach Pat Lam and hooker Keven Mealamu were glum afterwards when discussing a facet of the game featuring All Blacks locks Anthony Boric and Ali Williams which was dismantled by Donnelly and his second-row partner Sam Whitelock and they seemed to have few answers.

Now Donnelly is hoping to get the chance to ask a few difficult questions of Jamie Joseph's Highlanders at Dunedin's new stadium on Saturday night. The match for him will have an extra intensity given Joseph last season told Donnelly that he wouldn't be required next time around.

While Donnelly said he was excited by the prospect, he didn't want to pre-empt Blackadder's team announcement later in the week but it seems extremely unlikely that he will be left out given his impressive first-up showing against the Blues.

"It's going to be a pretty special day to play the old team at the new stadium," said Donnelly, who played 65 matches for the Highlanders after making his debut in 2004.

He didn't want to go into the details of how he left the southern franchise, saying "that was last year" but there is little doubt his difficulties in making the starting line-up coincided with him slipping from the All Black frame.

Donnelly had played 15 tests but was overtaken in the All Blacks coaches' affections by former Highlanders teammate Jarrad Hoeata.

Unfortunately for Joseph, and perhaps Donnelly, Hoeata won't play on Saturday due to a chest injury but the Crusaders will still face a challenge in a Highlanders pack which humbled the Chiefs in their victory in Hamilton on Saturday night.

Josh Bekhuis is an excellent lineout exponent and loose forward Adam Thomson was outstanding in this area at Waikato Stadium.

"They played really well in the weekend," said Donnelly of the Highlanders. "Adam Thompson was excellent there. They've got an experienced hooker in Andrew Hore there and they do the basics well."

Donnelly put his two lineout steals against the Blues down to a "combination of luck and good work from the team", adding: "We did a lot of research during the week. You don't operate too well if your set piece isn't working so that was a real focus".

While the Crusaders won by the slimmest of margins and only after Piri Weepu missed with a drop goal attempt from in front in the dying seconds, Donnelly said the feeling in the camp afterwards wasn't necessarily one of relief.

"It was satisfaction really, that we came up to Auckland and did the job."

There will be plenty more if Donnelly and the Crusaders can put in a similar shift in Dunedin.