Rugby: Donald slammed for 'ridiculous' pass

Stephen Donald in action for Bath. Photo / Getty Images

Stephen Donald maybe forever be remembered as a hero in New Zealand for kicking the penalty that sealed the All Blacks a Rugby World Cup but he's played the part of the villain in his English side's latest defeat.

Donald has been slammed by his Bath coach for literally throwing away a possible victory against the London Welsh in the weekend.

The former Chiefs number 10 gifted the London Welsh a late win in their Aviva Premiership encounter after throwing an intercept try which coach Gary Gold labelled as 'ridiculous'.

With the match tied at 9-9 and time almost up Donald delivered a "Hail Mary" cut-out pass off his left hand with the final attack of the contest.

The ball landed into a broad patch of no-man's land deep in London Welsh territory where opposition winger Nick Scott pounced on the ball and ran in a last-minute interception try from 70 metres out.

Gold didn't hold back in describing the play that led to his side's 16-9 defeat.

"The one thing you don't do against a defence like that is chuck a 'Hallelujah' miss-pass," the South African said.

"I can only put it down to a rush of blood. I'm astonished that anyone should throw such a ridiculous pass."

Initially, it seemed as though Bath would be the ones to steal a late victory.

They won a scrum on the London Welsh 22 and worked the ball into Donald's hands, leaving him with a full range of options. Only one man present was even close to guessing that the New Zealander would take the option he did. That man was Nick Scott, and he should buy himself a lottery ticket without further ado.

Bath remain seventh on the table with four wins and four defeats while the victory was just the third for the London Welsh this season.

- The Independent/nzherald.co.nz