Donnelly the All Blacks lucky charm.

Thomas Joshua Sebastian Donnelly -All Black number 1096, was Born in Rotorua in 1981 has turned into the good luck charm for the All Backs.

Ironically it was in the deep south that his rugby talents came to fruition, playing in Otago Tom chipped away and eventually made the ranks and made his debut for Otago in 2002 and became a regular member of the side in 2003, fulfilling early promise.

Tom then swooped in under the radar, he failed to earn any honours for New Zealand's age-grade teams, finally gaining international recognition with the Junior All Blacks in 2006. Playing in the prestigious Pacific Nations Cup, his team was so powerful that he was the only member of this 2006 Junior All Blacks squad yet to appear in the black jersey for any national side.

In 2007 Tom again made the Junior All Blacks squad the Pacific Nations Cup campaign, this time via a late call up after an injury to Hoani MacDonald.

In 2008 he was a genuine class act in the Pacific Nations Cup, his no frills work ethic allowed the men like Hosea Gear and Victor Vito to shine in the glory runs out wide. He also took on the role of captain for some games and his leadership and mannerism showed a glimpse of the future. Off the field he is very approacable, in fact he asks as many questions as the media do, he almost seems as interested in them as they are in the elite footy player.

In 2009 Donnelly was called into the All Blacks on the back of some impressive form for Otago during the Air New Zealand Cup. The All Blacks lineout had been average at best for the past 2 seasons and some serious heat was expected for the new lad.

What transpired was a confident player that did the basics and remembered what a locks role is, he secured his ball, he was even brave enough to attack a few Wallaby throws, and he commanded the ball at kick-off time. This quickly fixed some gaping holes in the All Blacks amour and he went on to feature in every match of the All Blacks end of year tour. 

Brad Thorn and Tom Donnelly are not so much the odd couple - more the accidental couple.

They were thrown together after the All Black lineout had all but disintegrated, and they needed someone, anyone, to front against the Wallabies in the final Tri Nations test last year.

Even he felt like that: "When I first came into the team I didn't know whether I was going to be good enough. I was nervous, very anxious."

Since these tentative steps Tom has had 9 tests and 9 victories. The All Blacks have looked more fluid and striking capabilities are being unleashed, yes the new rules are helping, but so does winning your lineout ball and kick-offs.

His idol player is Australian legend John Eales, aspiring to be like his is evident in Tom’s play, he said "In this environment I focus on the lineout, scrums, kick-offs and clean-outs and if I can do anything else then it's an added extra."

For once it is about keeping it simple, for years it has been over calculated and confusing. Even against the best in the world Victor Matfield, Mr Donnelly has come out even at the very least. It all seemed unlikely at first, but the more he plays the more they win and the All Blacks lucky charm is working a treat at the moment.

check out an interview with Tom