Springboks vs Wallabies @ Newlands 27/9/2014

[Train Without a Station]

Skelton's problem is if he doesn't improve from where he is now (Specifically fitness, endurance and work rate), he will likely end up as a big unit running around France, not a great international player.

 

[Tom Ando]

Skelton's problem is if he doesn't improve from where he is now (Specifically fitness, endurance and work rate), he will likely end up as a big unit running around France, not a great international player.

I see Skelton's offloading ability in general play to bet the thing we are missing most!So I'm disappointed he isn't playing. Our skill level just isn't up to scratch against the ABs and Springbok

 

[Train Without a Station]

Considering the amount I saw go to ground against NZ, and the Rising, I don't agree with that at all. We only miss good offloads.

The potential is clearly there, but the execution isn't test level right now.

 

[Tom Ando]

Considering the amount I saw go to ground against NZ, and the Rising, I don't agree with that at all. We only miss good offloads.

The potential is clearly there, but the execution isn't test level right now.

He seemed to do alright vs France? It has to be better than whatever pass Simmons was trying to throw last Saturday.

 

[Joeleee]

I'm as big a Skelton lover as anyone else, I just love a big fella, but I feel like he will probably get more value out of game time in the NRC than limited game time at Wallaby level. He's young, so still has lots to learn about the game. Plus, playing in the NRC, he will hopefully learn how to dominate a game, something that I legitimately think is a skill that goes beyond a collection of your others (I think Folau has it, for example). I haven't seen it from him yet but I would love to see him figure out how to dominate in the NRC so he can bring it to Super Rugby next year and Tests in the future.

 

[Train Without a Station]

He seemed to do alright at a lot of things against France. Current form says otherwise though.

Interesting you make Simmons an example, considering against South Africa he laid on a beautiful offload to Sam Carter that almost lead to a try.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I really want Big Will to develop into a top class international lock. His size and skill don't come around too often in Australia and he has the raw materials to be very good indeed. Come RWC time he could be a real weapon for the Wallabies. He's no good to us if he's walking most of the game though.

 

[Richo]

I'm not surprised that Big Willy has been less impactful at this point of the season. He's young, only in his second pro season, and just played a crucial role for a team that played meaningful rugby for as long as it's possible to do so. Considering he also played against France, he's barely had a break. Fitness will likely (hopefully?) come, but we shouldn't be surprised that he's fallen off a bit at as the season trails off.

 

[Train Without a Station]

but we shouldn't be surprised that he's fallen off a bit at as the season trails off.

Pretty sure I picked it after the Reds game in fact.

Not only is it his second professional season, he came from a very low fitness base to start with. Just think about the weight he has lost since the start of last pre-season.

Even in his excellent debut, he was still on the lower end for all players with regards to work rate. Had excellent impacts on moments of play, but otherwise there was a lot of jogging as other players overtook him, and flopping on rucks too.

Clearly he hasn't been picked because he's the 4th choice lock and if there's an injury it comes to him. He's been picked because his excellent potential has been rightly identified and the more he is given opportunity to develop, the better chance he will have of reaching that potential.

 

[Joeleee]

Even in his excellent debut, he was still on the lower end for all players with regards to work rate.

I think this is the key for him at the moment (before his fitness/game sense improves). That is, he has to be used for his big impact and his low work rate needs to be made up by others. On the other side of the coin, he needs to make sure his involvements do have a big impact, otherwise the sacrifice in work rate isn't worth it.

 

[wamberal]

I won't bore everybody by going on about mundane topics like lineouts, but let us hope that the Great Cheika can turn this chap into a proper second rower. Either that, or make a good decision as to which position he is best suited for, that might indeed be 8.

 

[Braveheart81]

Cheika may as well drop him back to club rugby now then.

He's either likely to be a lock who isn't good in the lineout or a number 8 who isn't good in the lineout and also isn't fast enough nor fit enought o play number 8.

At 140kg, some of these things just might not be possible.

It's like thinking that with enough training, Rob Simmons could provide the ball running and offloading game that Skelton has. It just isn't going to happen. Different physical attributes result in different strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Tom Ando]

He seemed to do alright at a lot of things against France. Current form says otherwise though.

Interesting you make Simmons an example, considering against South Africa he laid on a beautiful offload to Sam Carter that almost lead to a try.

I really can't remember that offload. Couldn't have been too special . Yet I remember every offload Kieran Read, Dane Coles and Franks threw vs the Boks. It actually haunts me... Scarily enough the style of play and decision making isn't nearly as bad as it was under Deans. Which probably makes it more frustrating to watch, because you know the potential is there. And we have seen glimpses of it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Francois Louw out for eight weeks.

Upsets the balance of our back row.

HM unlikely to bring in a bolter. Expect Coetzee to play as open side and Alberts to come back in if fit. I would start Whiteley for his pace and bring Alberts on from the bench.

Another chicken runner gone. Mvovo released for CC rugby and later a few more. After that we can expect the match23 to be. Would have love to had Brussouw now in 6. He, Duanne & Hendro win the CC in 2007 when they started as young guns for Free State.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

The stars don't seem to be helping Skeltons skills, where they use him as a mid field carrying option EVERY. FUCKING. PHASE. I bet they don't run fitness drills as hard as the wallabies do either. I reckon he's better off training hard with the wallabies and wearing the blazer come game time than playing the Stars brand of park footy

 

[qwerty51]

NRC is totally not Skelton's game anyway.

 

[Train Without a Station]

NRC is totally not Skelton's game anyway.

Whilst I do understand your point, it will be hard for Will to press his claims at higher levels if he cannot impose himself on games where he is coming up against a lot of amateur players.

 

[cyclopath]

Come on Gaffa. Just give me what I want!

Go on Twitter. I am sure you'll find one at least howling about it. Then again, the one in question thought Cowan should have started over Slipper!

 

[KOB1987]

Whilst he hasn't been the player he is capable of I can understand the Lilo decision..essentially if anyone in the 23 rolls their ankle (or whatever) next Friday afternoon at training there is coverage from the remaining 5 players no matter what number jersey said player was due to wear..if it's earlier in the week they can fly a better option over if necessary..

the omission of Skelton implies that we are going to see the same lock pairing start as I think Link would prefer to play Horwill off the bench than Carter..I also now think that Link will stick to his guns and start Fardy, although am not going to be surprised if Higgers gets the start..

so am predicting no unforced changes..Hanson in at 2, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) to the wing

 

[wamberal]

Cheika may as well drop him back to club rugby now then.

He's either likely to be a lock who isn't good in the lineout or a number 8 who isn't good in the lineout and also isn't fast enough nor fit enought o play number 8.

At 140kg, some of these things just might not be possible.

It's like thinking that with enough training, Rob Simmons could provide the ball running and offloading game that Skelton has. It just isn't going to happen. Different physical attributes result in different strengths and weaknesses.

If he cannot carry out all the tasks that all other second-rowers have managed to handle since time immemorial, maybe he is in the wrong game, or the wrong century.


Honestly, who gives a flying frig about off-loads? They are not the cake, they are the icing on the cake. If the cake is not good enough, all the icing in the world will not make it worth much in the real world. Meaning, the world inhabited by the best international teams In our code.