Remember all those blokes in the ‘before and after’ adverts for weight loss? You wouldn’t think it could apply to someone who is already a rugby professional, would you?
In Will Skelton’s case, it most definitely does apply. You can see the results in the photoshopped picture at the top of this article.
The brutal comparison in body-shape immediately switched on a light in Bob Dwyer’s head.
“I watched Saracens on the TV a week or so ago, and I saw Will Skelton in the Saracens team. Now he doesn’t look anything like the Will Skelton that played out here. The commentary team said he’s lost 20 kilograms and he’s playing at 130 kilograms,” the World Cup-winning Wallabies coach said.
“He goes to England… we thought they were soft and you could always run them around and beat them. All our players that go there come back better now.
“So that’s an indictment on us.”
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
It is doubtful the new version of Will Skelton will consider over-indulging in the cake and mince pies over the festive period. After all, Saracens have two matches book-ending Christmas week.
More likely, our hero will be tapping into his MyFitnessPal app and counting the calories.
“I track my food intake… I weigh my carbs and protein and it gets pretty easy because the trainers are supporting me although the boys do give me a bit of stick, which is normal,” Skelton said.
“I am eating 2500 calories a day and on game day it’s 3200. I load up in the back-end of the week for games. I am not worried about my weight – now it’s all about performance. I have a nutritionist outside the club (my wife found her) to get someone to take an objective view and it’s been the backbone of how much weight I have lost.”
Skelton’s changed outlook on food and calorie intake is the result of his exposure to the standards driven so hard at his new club, and a frank exchange with support staff at the end of the 2017-18 season. Skelton describes it as a ‘lightbulb moment’:
“I have more bounce on the field and feel I can do more. This is the best I have ever felt. I have a lot more energy and can keep up with the boys and your standards go up.
“I have learnt so much – about set piece, the kicking game – and I am more alert now around world-class players. I like the short, sharp intense training and found the other stuff – chilled and relaxed – around the squad and we were all working towards the same goal.”
Time at Saracens has undoubtedly improved Will Skelton, and ironically his spell in the UK has made him more of a live Wallaby candidate than he ever was in Australia.
Every player who joins a new culture changes that culture. The differences they make may be subtle and imperceptible at first, but a good club will find a way to use them to its advantage.
On the field, Saracens have improved the obvious debits in Will Skelton’s play, and have found other ways of making him an effective contributor within their existing playing structures.
Two question-marks raised against Skelton’s play back home revolved around his effectiveness at the set piece. He was too heavy to lift as a lineout receiver and his body position was consistently too high at the scrum.
In the recent European Champions Cup double-header against the Cardiff Blues, Skelton showed he was spritely enough to get up and challenge an opposition lineout throw:
At the scrum, Saracens went forward regularly on Skelton’s tighthead side against their Welsh opponents. The Saracens forward coaches have used a simple trick to knock their Australian giant into the right mindset for the set-piece. He starts on his knees as a reminder to stay low and flat:
As the scrum develops, the jolt forward on the right side is palpable as Skelton gets his enormous power to work:
Throughout the two games, it was fascinating to observe how Saracens have moulded aspects of their game around Skelton’s presence. He is not asked to jump much at the lineout, but tends to be used as a rear lifter to propel the receiver to stratospheric heights.
At Saracens’ restarts, the ball was nearly always kicked to his side – not for him to compete in the air, but do damage on the ground after the initial contest:
After it goes loose, Skelton is there to accelerate onto the ball and offload for the next wave of Saracens’ attack.
In the next example, Cardiff successfully make the receipt, but Skelton causes mayhem at the ensuing breakdown and creates the platform for a vicious counter-ruck, with the Blues avoiding turnover by the skin of their teeth. Even at the end of the play, Skelton is back on his feet and making a second effort, pulling one of the Cardiff guards off his feet to expose the kicker:
At the beginning of the second half, the Blues’ receiver made the mistake of running the ball back into Skelton and his mates, only to find the ball promptly ripped away in a choke tackle:
The other major criticism of Will Skelton while he was playing in Australia orbited around his low work-rate, particularly when he was required to start a game.
In the UK, this has become much less of an issue for the new, svelte version. Here is a short-hand example:
It’s a little thing, but Skelton makes the effort to circle around the ruck to the right to provide a ball-carrying option for scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth. He is immediately rewarded with a nice offload and increased momentum for the next wave of attack.
Now let’s look at a longer version. Saracens used Will Skelton to block down kicks off the halfback throughout the two games. Here he is, making an attempt to charge the Blues number 9 on the Cardiff 22-metre line:
After Saracens make the catch, Skelton is running back to his designated position on the far side of the North Londoners’ attack:
One phase later and he is in position to be rewarded for his effort, sparking another attack down the Saracens right. Skelton has run about 70 metres to get back in position, but it is all worthwhile because he has made himself a significant factor in the unfolding of the next play. That is down to his better conditioning and greater appetite for work:
Defence was another area which showed how sensibly Saracens are sculpting their systems to accommodate Skelton. His positioning to block down kicks tended to put him on the shortside of the defence, and as a rule he was not asked to wrap across the width of the field. He was required to run North-South, simply dropping back into position after each phase and then running forward again.
It is enough to observe that Saracens field one of the fastest line-speed defences in Europe, and Skelton did not look out of place next to the backs.
This sequence began on the Cardiff 60m line, before the Blues were driven back by exceptional line-speed, phase-in, phase-out, until they were finally intercepted on the edge of their own 22:
With a defender as loud and aggressive as Owen Farrell alongside him, Skelton was never going to be allowed to slack off as the Saracens defence pounded its way upfield!
Summary
After spending a couple of seasons with Saracens, there is no question Will Skelton looks the part – more than he ever did at the Waratahs. Gone is the walking between plays, and the breathers with hands on hips. Gone are the spiteful cheap shots that littered his game.
Instead, Skelton is increasingly playing to his size in terms of impacts on the game. He keeps up with play and works harder in both the smaller and larger moments. He scrummages better, and Saracens have established the kind of role he can play at both lineouts and restarts.
It is far easier now to imagine Skelton playing a constructive role off the bench in a Wallaby match-day 23. If Australia can find a number 8 with genuine lineout ability before the beginning of the World Cup, he could even start.
(Image. Tim Anger)
The value of the view from outside the box is once again priceless. It took the Saracens support staff and coaches (and his wife) to convince Will Skelton of the need for change in respect to his conditioning.
It took Bob Dwyer to convey that information to an Australian audience in such a way that it would be believed. Maybe he should be playing the same role more directly for Michael Cheika.
One thing is for sure, this is the kind of feedback every coach and player really needs. Criticism that is strong, which takes no prisoners but is constructive in origin and aim.
Will Australia’s new director of rugby, Scott Johnson, be able to provide that? It is anybody’s guess.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Nick thanks for this read. It made me think, so during the last couple of weeks I have made it a point to watch 2 Saracens games and particularly focus on Skelton. My thoughts .... 1. Yes he has definitely lost weight. 2. He does not appear any more mobile .... last to get back onside and generally last to the breakdown. 3. Body height still too high in mauls but better in scrums. 4. Did not contribute anything in lineouts, except lift. 5. Body height too high in cleanouts making him ineffectual. 6. Saw only 3 ball carries in 2 games and he did not break a tackle or off load. You must have seen his best game of the season because all I saw was a leaner but very similar Skelton.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think RA is in no position to run policies at odds with all other international nations. Not a lot to squeeze out when your test team flies in on Monday/Tuesday having played on the weekend.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. If RA modified the rules the players would not be in breach of contract. Under World Rugby Regulation 9 the clubs are obligated to release players for the designated international windows and I don't think they can actually write that out of their contracts. But they may take more underhanded measures such as offering a player a greater contract if he retires from international rugby. Anyway, RA changing their policy would not impact the players' contract as right now they are able to play for 12 tests each year. RA just chooses not to.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That would make sense... Except wasn't he quite out of shape with Saracens recruited him?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Exactly. Is it an indictment on Souths those years when Inglis blew out?
Markus
Roar Rookie
White was crucified for one bad kick in a Bledisloe. And it wasn't even the wrong option (the Wallabies pack were getting driven backwards metres at a time trying to hold possession), it just didn't get distance. He was still behind Genia in terms of form scrumhalves, but well above someone like Phipps yet never got half of the opportunities. I don't disagree that he would probably not look great back in Wallaby colours, but very few are at present.
Feff
Guest
Fionn is spot on. Sugar is bad stuff..Carbohyrates does convert to sugar, but we`re talking about pure refined sugar, Powerade, Ice tea, Coke, Lollies, Coconut water ( packaged ) Ice cream ,Chocolate, Custard, Cream etc etc Sugar is just plan bad and does not give you energy. In fact i get more energy with no sugar intake. Skelton is better off having a low carb low sugar can of beer ( or Big head lager or pure Blonde ) than having any of the above.
Azza
Guest
This line from him is a classic backhander to the Waratahs and Wallabies, unless he didn't realize it at the time. “ I have learnt so much – about set piece, the kicking game – and I am more alert now around world-class players. I like the short, sharp intense training and found the other stuff – chilled and relaxed – around the squad and we were all working towards the same goal.”
taylorman
Roar Guru
Dont think its so much that more than knowing if they have actually inproved. Is todays Nic White better than the Nic White for Oz when they were no. 2 or 3? Would Skeltons huge drop on weight give him the same impact in test rugby vs the ABs? Some of the stuff he did was due to his weight, so hes essentially a new player. Does that mean he’ll cut it in test rugby?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Should not exist for world cup years. Personally I think for the world cup only all players should be able to play for who they qualify for regardless of who they have played tests for. That makes it a true world cup. The best players in the ‘whole’ world are there. Then sides could scramble to get the best they can. Julian Savea could for instance, play for Samoa, yet also remain as an option for NZ. They nominate their order of preference. Julian opts NZ then Samoa for example. There only needs to be a timeframe of say a few months, say start of the year that they need to name their opted side, but they remain options as replacement for any if they are not selected. That means we get to see Piutau for the ABs when they open up selection or Tonga rather than being tucked away in the backblocks of nowhere. It also means our older All Blacks can support their island heritage more. Players are moving around more, International rugby needs to get the best players out there on the biggest stage.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Interesting thought Joe... Do you really feel that players cannot improve, and that it is wrong for them to try?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Skelton or Nic White? Both very average players out this way. White was awful in many of the Bled matches, virtually asked to leave. That hes adapted to the slower NH style isnt surprising and not sure how hed go back in Wallaby colours.
Joe
Guest
All this verbiage, very well written I have to admit, about a player who remains very ordinary.
norm de plume
Guest
Would there be any scope for considering Skelton himself as the backrower who can win the odd lineout? If regular lineout wins are a lock's first job and he is a bit iffy in that area, and at the same time we need height, line-bending bulk and defensive mongrel in the back row, with the occasional line out win a bonus... why wouldn't Will himself be part of that discussion? The only thing I can think of is that he is so big he would be unable to do the required on the ground breakdown work a backrower is expected to perform, at least at test level.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
It’s hardly surprising though. Essentially the Ireland squad is spread over 2 and a half teams and the Scotland squad over 2 teams. A 12 team league is not likely to maintain the quality across the board to compete with Leinster, for example. Some interesting issues below the surface here, FB. The 12 team Premiership came about because of the intervention of private ownership – if the RFU taken control of contracts there would prob have been no more than 6 regional or divisional sides at most. The shortfall in home-grown players is more than made up by foreign imports. If you look at the top foreigners playing for Bath and Wasps (who are in Leinster’s ECC group) who would all be in a match-day 23, you have : Jamie Roberts, Taulupe Faletau, Cooper Vuna, Rhys Priestland, Kahn Fotualii, Luke Charteris , Anthony Perenise and Francois Louw at the Rec; Brad Shields, Ashley Johnson, Nizaam Carr, Lima Sopoaga, Thomas Young, Juan de Jongh and Willie le Roux at the Ricoh. Leinster only has James Lowe (who has never been capped) and Scott Fardy – who is semi-retired and has not started a European match this season! The English and French clubs took control of European competitions a few years ago and shaped it to their wishes, increasing the number of qualifiers from Top 14 and the Premiership and reducing those from outside it. In the first three seasons after the change in 2014, all six finalists in the EPRCC and 9 of the 12 semifinalists were from England and France. That only changed last season, when Leinster won and three of the four semi-finalists were from the Pro 14. So I do not buy the bleating about Irish teams enjoying a better structure with more rest for the players etc… England and France created the comp as they wanted it and it’s their baby. It is designed to suit them and their greater financial resources. So if they’re losing they have only themselves (inc their coaching, recruitment and tactical frameworks) to blame! ????
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
True - people will accept losses if they can see improvement within a team...
Bobby
Guest
I think a lot of the public just also do not realise that generally a players worth overseas is much higher when they preclude themselves from playing for the Wallabies (or other national sidw) during their domestic season. So if a player wants to maximise his salary then he precludes himself from coming back and gives "loyalry" to his local club. I also suppose OS clubs have relied on the stated policy of RA in respect of Giteaus Law and do not expect any players under the 60 cap threshold to be called up. (If RA changed or modified the rule). I daresay the players contract may be in breach, terminated and a potential damages claim forthcoming.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Yes, I can understand the Pro-14 perception, and certainly Exeter and Saracens are significantly better than the rest of the Prem. It’s hardly surprising though. Essentially the Ireland squad is spread over 2 and a half teams and the Scotland squad over 2 teams. A 12 team league is not likely to maintain the quality across the board to compete with Leinster, for example. I’m not sure the Prem teams that qualify for the ECC will feel they’re significantly behind the curve with the Welsh and Scottish franchises, however.
Lachness
Roar Rookie
Hi Carlos, I am definitely in agreeance with the theoretical concepts of his low energy intake and assumed high energy expenditure. Skeltons muscle fibre make-up will determine the way in which most of the push, hit, tackle, jump and sprint movements are performed (i.e. fast or slow). It is more of a case that if he is genetically made up of a greater percentage of fast-twitch, then he may be far more dynamic in those aspects of the game. Vice versa, if he is made up of a greater percentage of slow twitch, then he may be less dynamic. While the potential improvements to his training regime may make a slight change to the percentage of fast/slow twitch, it needs to be understood whether he has any physiological, hormonal and/or biochemical factors affecting his nutritional intake. Skelton being a pro athlete is also one of the variables that needs to be taken into account. Even though he a large lump of a lad, his body has been trained and conditioned to function at a level (both conditioning and caloric) for long periods of time. It is sub-optimal, however, he may be functioning (at this present moment) with the protocol provided presently. We are also under the assumption that he is actually consuming these numbers (there is the chance he has lied or misinterpreted his values). I have witnessed many athletes who have come to train with me (from national and international set-ups) train, perform and recover with "theoretically" sub-optimal nutritional breakdowns. My apologies, the last line i am referring to the idea that (given those are actually his numbers) they have him in a protocol that best fits him within his current physical and psychological parameters. It will need to best fit him as an individual for it to work properly! The usual scenario sees athletes self-report (differing research results using this approach) once having left daily training. However, this may also not be the case as you say. I think we are both at the same outcome, however, interpreting the information slightly differently. I like where your coming from though mate.
Toolman
Guest
Too true Waxhead. Lots of comments here about calorie intake and yes it’s relevant. However, Bishop’s inciteful articles and analysis are on the whole an indictment on the coaching of these players and the Wallabies. A coaches job is to get the team and players playing BETTER. Better skills, better fitness, better gameplans, better tactically. Put simply, IMPROVEMENT. This doesn’t necessarily meaning winning all the time, because as the improvement and culture improves, so will results. It was interesting to see how starting Skelton on his knees in the drum has helped his body height in this area. Funny thing is, years ago this was standard, usually one knee, until someone introduced the ‘standing’ engagement with your backside in the air, exactly the opposite of what you want from a second row in the scrum. Technique can be COACHED, and that’ what’s so frustrating with Cheika, it just seems to be based on emotion. That only gets you so far. The emotional attachment to winning is far more powerful than a golf club or rant.