Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson has candidly reflected on a season he describes as 'inconsistent', while setting his sights firmly on the ultimate prize: leading the Wallabies at the 2027 home World Cup.
Learning from a Rollercoaster Year
The fly-half's 2025 campaign was a tale of highs and lows. He started the year in a three-way battle for the Wallabies number 10 jersey ahead of the British and Irish Lions tour, but finished it excluded from the Wallabies' spring tour squad. Donaldson featured in Australia's first four Tests of the year, with his final appearance in the green and gold coming for Australia A.
While he came off the bench to help the Wallabies beat the Lions in Sydney, an ankle injury on the eve of their historic win over South Africa at Ellis Park derailed his momentum. Upon return, he found himself out of the national setup despite ongoing changes at five-eighth.
Donaldson finished seventh in the Nathan Sharpe Medal voting for a Force side whose season faded, and his lack of match minutes showed during the off-season Super Rugby AUS campaign, where he admitted to looking rusty compared to teammate Max Burey.
The 2027 Vision and Staying Present
Despite the setbacks, Donaldson's long-term ambition burns brightly. "My main goal is to be the Wallabies' number 10 at the home World Cup in two years," he told The West Australian. This dream fuels his daily objectives with the Force, which include pushing for a finals berth and ultimately winning the title.
He believes his focus strayed in 2025. "This year, I probably looked too far ahead into what was coming with the Lions," Donaldson admitted. "Maybe I looked into that too much, which maybe affected my performance, maybe looked for a big play that's not on."
The lesson has been to master the basics. "As a fly-half, you need to control the tempo, the rhythm of the game," he explained. Consistency, he says, comes from executing core skills perfectly, rather than forcing spectacular moments.
Building with the Force and a Full Pre-Season
Donaldson, who re-signed with the Force for an additional two years in June 2025, thrives on the attacking style coach Simon Cron encourages. "The style we play is a big reason why I came here," he said, noting the fly-half's high involvement suits his game.
For the first time since moving west, Donaldson is enjoying a full pre-season with the Force, having previously been delayed by Wallabies duties. He says the new assistant coaches and refreshed training have made for one of the hardest, but most rewarding, pre-seasons of his career.
His path back to the Wallabies jersey is clear: dominate at club level. "It's about winning each moment every day, really staying in the moment, and then whatever comes from that should take care of itself," Donaldson said, balancing his 2027 dream with the daily grind required to achieve it.
