Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie is contemplating throwing NSW giant Will Skelton into Saturday’s dead-rubber daylight Test at a packed Allianz Stadium.
Sydney fans, relishing a rare 3pm kick-off, would also be delighted to see Waratahs cult hero Skelton make his international debut in the third Test against France.
McKenzie gave hope the 135kg lock will get a call-up to audition in Australia’s last hit-out before the Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship kick off on August 16.
Starting second-rowers Rob Simmons and James Horwill did little wrong in the series-clinching 6-0 victory at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, while another rookie, Luke Jones, worked hard in a 20-minute debut off the bench.
But Skelton has been a point of difference for the second-placed Waratahs in Super Rugby with his barnstorming, tackle-shedding runs and skilful off-loads.
“He offers a different package so that is something we’ve been thinking about,” McKenzie said on Sunday.
“We haven’t gone that way but it’s something to acknowledge and that’s why he’s in the squad.
“It’s just how we would use him because there’s different ways.”
McKenzie noted the afternoon start would also put a different complexion on the game and tactics.
But rather than make wholesale changes for the dead-rubber to give all his unused squad-members game time, he’d prefer to improve performance with settled combinations.
“We can move things around a lot and that might create confusion or lesser combinations, or you just try and play better,” McKenzie said.
Slight adjustments and tinkering are likely, while another tough choice at No.8 looms with Wycliff Palu (ankle) available again and Ben McCalman topping the tackle count in a busy display.
France skipper Thierry Dusautoir, who led the charge at the 2011 World Cup final, said his side again prepared to produce something “extraordinary”.
Despite the loss, the flanker felt the closeness of the game put Les Bleus in good stead to end their 24-year drought on Australian soil.
“What was really important for us was to show another face of the French team,” Dusautoir said.
“We know that the series already has been lost but for us it’s really important to win the third game.”
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