French Barbarians v Australia, Thursday 24 November
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WTF?
Tom Lawton (22)
I would say there are more similarities with Dylan Hartley being made captain of England and Skelton captain tomorrow. EJ (Eddie Jones) thought it would help temper Hartley's brain snaps, and it seems to be working. Perhaps Cheik feels the same in giving Will some responsibility will stop a lot of the stupid stuff.
Micheal
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
One thing I found interesting was that a couple of days ago (prior to the team announcement), Ben Mowen was quoted on rugby.com.au saying the following:
“I think when I left Australian rugby Will Skelton was obviously very new on the scene and I think the way that he's matured as a real natural leader and you can see his presence in the team is really important,” he said.
Perhaps he has been killing it at training / showing some strong leadership but that hasn't been translating onto on-field performances. Alternatively, perhaps the coaching group think it could ground his play / stupidity a bit.
Perhaps Cheika mandated it. Perhaps the coaching group thrown together was told they could pick a captain of their choosing and Justin Harrison fell in love with him.
No one really knows and at the end of the day I really don't think anyone would've considered it much. This games means very very little.
“I think when I left Australian rugby Will Skelton was obviously very new on the scene and I think the way that he's matured as a real natural leader and you can see his presence in the team is really important,” he said.
Perhaps he has been killing it at training / showing some strong leadership but that hasn't been translating onto on-field performances. Alternatively, perhaps the coaching group think it could ground his play / stupidity a bit.
Perhaps Cheika mandated it. Perhaps the coaching group thrown together was told they could pick a captain of their choosing and Justin Harrison fell in love with him.
No one really knows and at the end of the day I really don't think anyone would've considered it much. This games means very very little.
Highlander35
Steve Williams (59)
Nah. Hartley was captain at club level for donkeys, and if anything, it just exacerbated his white line fever.
80% Eddie Jones, 20% knowing he's never gonna get another chance if it happens again.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Wow - how incisive is Mowen on Skelton..
Bloke just went down a little further IMHO
Really don''t have a problem with the big bloke being captain but I nearly threw up reading that "real natural leader" shit
Micheal
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
Eddie Jones' decision to make Hartley captain wasn't so much a "tone down your aggression Dylan" but more of a "smarten up your aggression Dylan".
Even more than that, I think it was Jones saying to the team "England needs to be a smart and aggressive side again. Everybody, be like Dylan".
The Lancaster-era took the edge off the team, Jones wants the England team of old. A big, brutish pack of ogres (Kruis, Lawes, Launchbury, Itoje, Haskell, Vunipola x2 etc) lead around by a deft and smart Prince Charming (Ford, Farrell).
It plays to their strengths and makes perfect sense really. No point trying to be New Zealand when England does just fine being England.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
No doubt you have researched that correctly and I do agree with you, especially since Ben Mowen is 195 cm tall and the average Australian male is 175.5 cm
However I do disagree with the trust of your post.
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Mr Doug
Dick Tooth (41)
Thank you Scrubber, you have just confirmed that I must be "above average"!!
Scrubber2050
Mark Ella (57)
Mr Doug
Dick Tooth (41)
Mr Doug,
We are only talking about height here
Aw shucks Scrubber, you know how to batter a bloke's ego!
Tomikin
David Codey (61)
Merrow
Arch Winning (36)
But still quick.
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