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Skelton out to make big impact

19th August, 2014
13

Sir Graham Henry wanted him to be an All Black, but instead Will Skelton looms as a Wallabies gamebreaker charged with busting the Bledisloe Cup series wide open on Saturday.

An explosive man of the match in his Test debut against France in June, Skelton had to wait 70 minutes before injecting his super-sized frame into the fray in last Saturday’s 12-all draw in sodden Sydney.

But Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie says he won’t hesitate to thrust the two-metre-tall, 140kg juggernaut into the Eden Park cauldron much earlier if more favourable conditions prevail for the return leg.

Skelton, who grew up in Auckland before turning down Henry’s bid to bring the exciting young lock back “home” to the Blues this season, says he can’t wait for another crack at the world champions after being given a small taste last weekend.

“I loved it,” he said on Tuesday.

“The conditions weren’t the best but I thoroughly enjoyed it, standing in front of the haka and just being amongst that calibre of player within our team and against the All Blacks.”

The cousin of former All Black Brad Mika, Saturday will be Skelton’s first visit to Eden Park for a Bledisloe Cup stoush.

“I haven’t played there much and I’m excited to play there – and I think they’ve got nice change rooms,” he said.

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“I used to go and watch the local comp and the NPC – Auckland running around – but I never got to an All Black game when I was growing up,” he said.

“But I went to a few over here so I know the atmosphere and to run out there (last Saturday at ANZ Stadium) was different because I was on the field.”

And Skelton is likely to spend more time on the field as the Wallabies try to keep the series alive.

McKenzie has challenged his bench to make a big impact in the must-win encounter and force their way into the starting side.

“We don’t want the guys coming off the bench and giving away penalties and slowing the team down. We actually want to increase the tempo and put more pressure on,” the coach said after retaining the same 23-man squad for Bledisloe II.

“I think everyone knows I’m not shy to use the bench, so I always have a plan around that and I’m sure it will be different this weekend.

“Guys who come off the bench and make a difference, that doesn’t go unnocited or unrewarded.

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“If you make a good contribution, you tend to get more time. (If) you keep doing that, you eventually get a start.”

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