I've got a solution to the lack of Skeltons "standard lock skill set".
Play him at 8.
Too soon?
A couple of points regarding Skelton:
1. He has a huge point of difference - his carrying and soft hands, and ability to attract defenders. Yes, this is what we currently need.
2. However, I think that Skelton is a worse scrummaging lock than Carter, Simmons and Horwill - too often I have seen his shoulders up too high on the props' backside, that is, he can't consisently get low enough to get enough power through the prop. I am not sure sure on why this is. However, I think that people claiming that Skelton will improve our scrum are incorrect - I think it would be the inverse, in fact.
3. There are questions about his ability to last games - he can fade in and out (as expected of a guy his size and limited professional years of conditioning).
4. He is an alternative option at the lineout, not a main one (of which most teams these days have at least 3, some 4).
5. The All Blacks (and Crusaders in the Super Rugby final) targeted him to good effect, lessening his impact to next to nothing, although these may be isolated cases.
6. Finally, and here is the clincher,
Link has not been using Skelton as a reserve lock in the Rugby Championship. In both games vs the All Blacks Skelton came on for Palu or Fardy, and Simmons and Carter played 80.
Now, generally:
- If you think that Skelton should be included, then generally you believe than point 1 is more important than 2 - 5 (and/or you believe that 5 points to isolated cases, and you haven't picked up on point 2).
- If you think that Skelton should not be included, then you think that points 2 - 5 overwhelm point 1.
Personally, I'm somewhere on the fence on Skelton's inclusion. Point 2, though, is why I would not have Skelton starting vs the Pumas.
However, given point 6, and given the lack of impact of our starting locks, it should not be a surprise that Skelton is not included by Link, as Link is not playing Skelton as a lock, or he does not consider Skelton as a traditional lock option right now.
Add me to the list of people surprised that Horwill wasn't included for one of Simmons (oh my god, how many more dumb penalties?) and Carter (continuing lack of impact).