How is it that in the Professional era players surrounded by professional coaches can go out and make fundamental school boy errors?

'Dump of the week' goes to Stephen Donald. A 1st class footballer since debuting for Counties Manukau in the 2nd Division of the 2003 season, having been a schoolboy star out of Wesley high School, representing NZ Secondary Schools and U19’s. The problem is this NZ Junior All Black cannot kick his way out of a paper bag when on defence. Donald’s problem is he continually advances towards the opposition whom take tremendous delight in charging down his clearances and bagging 7 pointers!

It must now be a plan of opposition to kick into the Chiefs red zone and then concentrate not on winning the Chiefs lineout throw, but charging at chicken legs and reaping the rewards.

Cripes, when I was just a nipper, and had my first experience of being charged, my coach took me aside at the next training session and taught me the difference between kicking options, and being aware of what the opposition players where up to, and how much space and time you have. Sure if you get excellent front foot pill, advance and bury the bloody pill 50 metres up field and take all the beers and cheers of your fatties in the clubrooms afterwards. But if you get flat foot pill, or worse, retreat a metre while in the movement of kicking and put yourself on an angle so it is impossible to have your kick charged. Sacrifice 20 odd metres but at least find touch. Or, in absolute last option desperation, run the bloody thing out by stepping the charging flankers!

Donald must be an absolute muppet, with nothing between his ears, as him having clearances charged is regular for him (I can think of at least 5 occasions now) and still he uses the same style of kick, no matter what the game situation and the pressure bearing down on him!!

Same unfortunately has to be said for Ian Foster, surely he has spoken and even shown Donald how to do this absolute basic skill? If he has and Donald “forgets” drop him!!

Merhtens was the master of awareness of space and time, and could send the ball into orbit, but if players where on top of him he’d take the safe option and just get it out. Or on occasion run it out and with the 'startled hare' and total surprise element turn it into an attacking option, but always only as the final option.

Sorry Mr Donald you get Willie’s first 'Dump of the week'.