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The last few Tests played by the Wallabies have resulted in close encounters, with the Wallabies either falling short, or just scraping home.
It suggests that the Wallabies are not pulling their weight enough, resorting to either playing catch up footy, or being complacent after putting on an early lead.
Some might say that the Wallabies lack the clinical edge which is apparent in the All Blacks game. However, I say that the Wallabies can be ruthless, because they have the players to do so.
One such player is Will Skelton. Skelton is a behemoth who easily commands two or more defenders, and his physicality is a huge asset for the Green and Gold machine.
The problem lies in how he has been used in the Tests he has played so far. Skelton’s advantage lies in his ability to beat the first defender with pure power, and the recent Tests have shown that he does this consistently.
Such an ability is crucial when Australia is in the opposition 22, because if that first defender fails to hold his own (as one would expect against Skelton), Skelton will score.
How often has Australia been metres away from the tryline and the attack had gone pear-shaped? Let me answer that for you – too many times. There is a need for another element in attack.
The Wallabies have a world-class back line but have been playing against some world-class defensive systems in recent times. The way around that is not by playing a different brand, but adding another element in attack through Skelton the behemoth, as he did against the French in the third of the June’s Tests.
The Wallabies can also look to playing him wide in attack, to target the flyhalf channel. This will give the flyhalf a hard time with the hope of putting him off his game, while attracting more defenders so Skelton can offload for a lurking Israel Folau.
The Wallabies have a beast in their pack, and it is time they put him to use.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.