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No lineout woes for Wallabies: Skelton

24th June, 2016
7

Recalled Wallabies lock and enforcer Will Skelton is adamant Australia won’t have any linoeut problems in Saturday’s clash with England.

NSW Waratahs giant Skelton and the Reds Rob Simmons have been brought back into the team in place of Sam Carter and Test rookie Rory Arnold.

Back after injury, Skelton noted the Wallabies had some lineout issues in the first two Tests.

“They (England) have been pretty sharp, I think we’ve lacked in our detail the last couple of games, especially in the line out,” Skelton said.

“And this week we won’t have a problem there.

“We haven’t adapted to how the opposition has been playing, so this week we’ve worked really hard on changing that and being able to adapt and be proactive rather than reactive.”

Skelton is looking forward to playing against rising England lock Maro Itoje, who has won a swag of individual awards in recent months.

“I think our boys have dealt with him well,” Skelton said.

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“He’s a nuisance on the field, which is what you want as a lock.”

Skelton was philosophical about coach Michael Cheika naming a third different lock combination in as many games.

“He does go off form and he does go off training, so if you’re training well you get picked,” he said.

Skelton’s return gives Cheika another powerful ball running forward.”

“I’m a big boy and I like to carry the ball, so I’m going to try and get my hands on the ball as much as I can this week,” Skelton said.

He has only started five of his 14 Tests, but Skelton said he wasn’t surprised to be part of the run on side this weekend.

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