Ainsley’s rise continues with Wallabies training squad spot

Ainsley’s rise continues with Wallabies training squad spot
By Jeff Cheshire
10 0
Sport Rugby
Jermaine Ainsley.
Jermaine Ainsley.
Jermaine Ainsley has come a long way since his days in the Otago Boys’ High School Third XV.
The tighthead prop continued his meteoric rise this week, being selected in the Wallabies’ 38-man training squad for the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup. Ainsley grew up in Cromwell and Dunedin. He moved to Perth after finishing school in 2013, following his family who had moved a year earlier.


It was a big decision, but one that has paid off.


He was sighted early on playing in the NRC and put into the Western Force system, nailing down a starting spot with the Super Rugby team this year as a 21-year-old.


Before that Ainsley played in the Otago Boys’ First XV in 2012 and 2013.


Plucked out of the school’s third XV at the beginning of year 12, Ainsley became a key player for Otago Boys’, the team making the 2012 national final.


His coach in that team, Ryan Martin, said Ainsley’s ability to carry the ball and step like a midfielder, along with doing his core role well, had intrigued him.


It was that same skill set that he believed could see him succeed at the highest level.


"I’ve got no doubt he will play a lot of test matches, and it’s all around his attitude and ... that point of difference for him.


"He is a true New Zealand prop, a triple threat with the ball in hand.


"Especially as a tighthead, he’s progressed as a youngster. Normally they’re a bit reluctant — they hold off until the mid-20s — to blood those tightheads.


"But they’re taking a punt and I think it’s definitely the right one — and for him to have exposure at that level at such a young age is going to fast-track his development."


Martin said he had been thrilled by the news of Ainsley’s selection, calling it "pretty big".


As a coach it was great to see players achieving highly after leaving school. Ainsley was one of the school’s biggest success stories.It showed you could still make it, even if you were not picked in the top team straight away, Martin said.


His work ethic had been key and he put a lot of work into his personal preparation.


"He’s one of our icons at school. We’ve got a big picture up of him in our team room because it’s such a good success story.


"He was one of our top trainers off the field — really crafted his position. He just did his core role really well and worked hard on that."


Ainsley is the son of former All Black and Otago prop Joe McDonnell, who played eight tests.


The Wallabies squad is to meet next week in North Sydney for the first of a series of camps.

https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/ai...ing-squad-spot