Stephen Donald | Playmakers: Rugby Stories | Sky Sport

Sky Sport delves into some of rugby’s best stories from the characters that have made the game great. This week, Jeff Wilson catches up with one of the most famous men in New Zealand, Stephen 'Beaver' Donald.
This episode is also available as a podcast - just search 'Sky Sport Presents: Playmakers' wherever you listen.
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[@mothehammer6535]

One of the greatest rugby comeback stories ever! Respect 🇿🇦🏆🏆🏆🇿🇦

[@marklinehan5423]

Beaver a local legend, talented rugby player and loyal. His book was a fun read and personally I am thrilled for his 2011 redemption, "cometh the hour, cometh the man.."

[@michaelcooney7687]

my Nephew and I were at that game 2011 RWC final... on wheels the Beaver... the crowd hushed... this felt like 2007 QF against the same team... The Beaver nails the wonkiest bumble bee ... the all blacks guard that tiny advantage to win... Walking back from Eden park to the city... a huge banner hanging out of an apartment window flapped in adoration and respect for this poor bloke that was public enemy No1 not 24 hrs previously.... Awesome redemptive occasion and such a testament to this awesome bloke...

[@samsonmorrell]

Typical tall poppy New Zealand. So stoked for Beaver. Seems like he's such an awesome dude.

[@gauthamk10]

Stephen Donald is some what every one of us. Everyone would love that final bit of sweet success after all those failures. Even though all of us would to be a Richie or SBW, most of them are Beavers, and this Beaver's story is a perfect example, that even a Beaver can have a silver lining & happing ending. Thanks a lot Beaver, I hope to one day come to your pub & have a drink with you

[@mihakataituha5958]

Mad respect as a one eyed all black supporter and expecting the All Blacks to win every game I never really appreciated what the players have to go through I was pessimistic truly and humbly thank you both for all you have done for NZ Rugby

[@charleswilliams2841]

Fantastic interview, I remember how maligned Stephen was after Hong Kong, and to come on in a RWC final as the All Blacks fifth choice kicker (if you include Piri Weepu) and to kick that penalty is just amazing. Great job.

[@noelburland7169]

Stephen Donald was very harshly treated by a group who dared to call themselves "fans". I don't think I've ever seen a backlash quite like the one that Donald faced after the 2010 Hong Kong Bledisloe Cup match, where he was vilified for missing a penalty and also for not kicking a ball into touch that the Wallabies scored the winning try from. The abuse he copped got too personal and showed an ugly side to our support of our national rugby team and its players. The criticism he faced was born from the previous year where he was thrust into the #10 jersey while Dan Carter was injured, at a time where the team struggled and Donald was often pinpointed as a scapegoat for the team's poor run of form. Even before that Hong Kong game there were people ridiculing his inclusion in that end-of-year tour squad who obviously wanted him to fail and that contributed to the nasty reaction to his 20 minute Hong Kong performance. There will always be players in New Zealand who face criticism no matter what they do. The current captain Sam Cane is one of those players. He has been criticized regularly ever since Ardie Savea emerged and yet Cane has not really put a foot wrong with the All Blacks. I even saw people celebrating Cane's pectoral muscle injury that has sidelined him for around six months which is rather distasteful. Donald ended his All Blacks career the best way possible, kicking the winning penalty in the 2011 World Cup Final and gaining the most sweetest form of payback against those who criticized him.

[@caroshenriques.de-granada8637]

great interview looking forward to it , really good questions

[@KernowekTim]

A good man, professionally interviewed by Jeff Wilson, who really shows his skills as an excellent presenter. There's no such thing as the perfect player, only dreamers believe dross like that. A Rugby World Cup Final is the biggest stage of all for elite players. New Zealand was in the shit at 10, Stephen Donald turned up, stepped up, enhanced the black jersey, and made the difference between the All Blacks losing or winning. His effort sealed the deal. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. France lost, the rest is rugby folke lore, and history.

[@GreadTiitii]

The man STEPHEN you are awesome brother

[@marksta5915]

Sky sports should be actively head hunting Beaver, he would make an excellent pundit

[@elizabethleiper2664]

another darned decent bloke

[@nesianrugby]

"He loves a dollar" lmao