There was a lot of interest in the Test debut of Will Skelton last weekend, primarily because of his impressive physical dimensions.
When the camera panned across the Wallaby team during the national anthem, you got a sense of what Gulliver must have looked like to the Lilliputians.
Post-match reports assessing Skelton’s performance have been glowing, and the young man can be well satisfied with his debut.
In a passage of play that lasted two-and-a-half minutes and 19 phases, Skelton won the lineout, carried the ball twice to continue the movement and then scored the first try of the match. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to international rugby.
The Wallabies were tactically smart in how they used Skelton. They called a lot of short lineouts to offset his size and weight. They used the speed of Michael Hooper and Tevita Kuridrani to chase restarts down the middle of the field, and it was noticeable the Wallabies reverted to a more conventional restart following Skelton’s substitution.
They didn’t want Skelton to expend energy chasing the ball around the field, so he occupied the fat man’s track with clear instructions to make his presence felt at collisions in his zone. Once the ball moved away from the middle of the field, he held his position and waited for the ball to come back towards him.
Watching Skelton move around the field, he doesn’t display a great deal of energy until his hands are on the ball, but it’s his ability on the ball that separates him from his peers.
The manner in which he delivered the telling pass to Israel Folau for his second try was top quality, any midfield or inside back would be proud of it. That’s the kind of impact and x-factor that can’t be measured purely by statistics, and precisely why Ewen McKenzie was keen to assess Skelton at Test level.
Skelton will never be a workhorse in the manner of Sam Carter or Luke Jones, nor will he ever be an aerial athlete like Rob Simmons. Skelton is not expected to lead or dominate in the usual categories for metres run, lineouts won on own throw or opposition throw, and tackles made. But he can carry the ball strongly, attract defenders and offload before and in the tackle, providing an ingredient that has been missing from the Wallaby forward pack since the retirement of Owen Finnegan.
That’s where he provides value to this team and as his conditioning improves and his potential is fulfilled, that value will increase exponentially.
For a man his size, it was difficult to judge his influence on the Wallaby scrum apart from increasing their pack weight, as the scrums were generally messy, with both front rows guilty of collapsing.
Tactically, France failed to grasp opportunities to exert pressure in specific areas and it took them half the game to realise they never tested Skelton on defence from a restart. The first one they sent in his direction following Folau’s second try showed the Wallabies exit play is not as well organised when Rob Simmons isn’t involved in securing the restart.
They also didn’t target Skelton by attacking his side of the field repeatedly to try and tire him, outflank him or create mismatches in defence.
There is growing support and calls from fans to start Skelton in the first Bledisloe Cup match. The belief is that he can provide more influence on the outcome starting the match, than as an impact player off the bench.
The theory has merit, the risk is that Skelton’s size and lack of energy in his movement around the field would be exposed by the All Blacks.
This is one of the selection challenges facing Ewen McKenzie as he plans and plots the downfall of the All Blacks.
Chan Wee
Guest
@ Diggercane : also a potential problenm is lifting him at line out. that extra 15 kg is like 150kg when ur used to lifting 120kg ;) also cant think of many plays a big guy scred the NZ or SA teams. Billy V is 125kg and was neuterd in 2013 and 2014 by NZ . infact i remember NZ kicked straight to Billy last year and then stopped him stright away. in the last match Woodcock hit him hard and dislodged the ball. Morgan had more impact then Billy (but of course he was out for 10 so...)
rugby rules ok
Guest
have you guys never played rugby in your younger days or maybe forgotten your coach telling you just give it to the big kid I will concede it seemed it was the other teams coach that always had THE BIG KID
Riccardo
Guest
I think Ewen would be mad to start this guy against the superior pace of the All Blacks or the Bokke Sam. He may be the biggest player to play for the Wallabies but that's because he needs to lose weight. Too slow. As you have mentioned plans had to be made to accomodate this and a much sterner Test than Les Bleus (who were disappointing IMO) awaits. He has value as an impact player but even then care will be needed. He wiill be easily turned by a smart attack and then his channel is wide open. This does not negate his value as impact though. The guy has great hands for a big man. He will carry well, attract numbers and still offload and this will improve as he gets fitter and can contribute more around the park. Someone needs to get him some decent size shorts too, for goodness' sake.
moaman
Guest
FYI Rugby Championship referee appointments: Aug 16: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney (Jaco Peyper, SA); South Africa v Argentina, Pretoria (John Lacey, Ire). Aug 23: NZ v Australia, Auckland (Romain Poite, Fra); Argentina v SA, Salta (Steve Walsh, Aus). Sept 6: Australia v SA, Perth (Clancy, Ire); NZ v Argentina, Napier (Pascal Gauzere, Fra). Sept 13: Australia v Argentina, Gold Coast (Glen Jackson, NZ); NZ v SA, Wellington (Jerome Garces, Fra). Sept 27: SA v Australia, Cape Town (Nigel Owens, Wales); Argentina v NZ, La Plata (Craig Joubert, SA). Oct 4: SA v NZ, Johannesburg (Wayne Barnes, Eng); Argentina v Australia (Owens). Bledisloe Cup: Oct 18: Australia v NZ, Brisbane (Joubert).
Magic Sponge
Guest
Has too we saw the result in the 2nd test of Simmonds and Horwill and the difference of 26 points with Skelton. He is only going to improve.
Nigel Imrie
Guest
He is a 40 minute player and the way he was used v France is the way to bring out the most of him, against the ABs we need a 10 man rugby approach with big forward runners coming of Foley and Toomua, the likes of Slipper, Kepu, Palu and so on with quick recycles and Skelton being first receiver on second phase ball either punching it up or trying to off load with variations of this theme. We can take the ABs on up front before unleashing our backs, we need to treasure the ball and not allow their back three room to move, we need to strangle them and this can be done, the English did it and so can we. We need to play like the 2nd state of origin game hold onto the ball and make them fight for it, make it a wrestle fest, grind it out, let's test our fitness against theirs, the ABs definitely did that against the English last Saturday to the point where they didn't want to stop playing, let's do the same, engage them and definitely no Jakeball!!!!!!!!
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks Sam. He had a great debut and well done to him but I would be very surprised to see him start in the RC against ourselves or the boks. Being first to the breakdown and dominating that area will be important and I cant see him at this point being more than an impact player. I do look forward to watching him improve as his potential is there for most to see.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
I think he's got a bit to do yet, he must improve his all field presence, the ABs will run him ragged if he starts. I think we need to give him cameos for a while.