Wallaby Watch 2014

[Scrubber2050]

fatprop - that scenario would scare the shit outa me. - not only from a line-out perspective but also Skelton might have to play 75

It will be interesting to see final selection

 

[wamberal]

I know I keep bleating about this, but I just cannot believe that Skelton cannot learn the basics of performing as a lineout option. Surely he has to be able to get up off the ground when he catches the ball at restarts?

What is the problem, can somebody explain it to me in terms that I can understand? Hugh Jarse posted an image of him being lifted at a Tahs training session. Was that a fake? Has he got vision problems?

Bugger me, he is big enough and strong enough to win more than his fair share at 2.

 

[Train Without a Station]

He does jump in line outs. He's just not particularly quick off the ground due to his bulk and not better than average at it because unlike most locks he probably didn't start jumping in line outs until he was put in a professional environment.

Common sense says he is not going to be as good as a good that's been doing it since under 12s.

 

[Scrubber2050]

TWAS - agree about bulk and speed off the ground. Its just commonsense that a bloke at 115-118kg has a bit more spring and is able to be lifted higher and faster than a bloke at 140-145 kg.

Had a chat to a "speciialist" doctor mate of mine yesterday and he is of the opinion that a bloke the size of big Will will more than likely have a quite limited playing career (at the top levels), simply because of his body size and the effects of an impact sport like rugby will have on that body.

Suppose, like always, time will tell.

 

[wamberal]

Jumping at 2 is a matter of timing, surely? Get up quicker than your opponent, then use your huge reach to get in front of him and grab the pill. Easier said than done, I suppose. Defensive work is another matter.

I do like the idea of him playing 8, though. If he can get aerobically fit enough, that is. Maybe as he gets older and stronger; he would be a scary proposition if he could get his mitts on the ball a bit more often.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Wamberal I'd love to see him developed into an 8 because that's where his strengths really suit.

It's not just timing though. Sure all line outs you try to win on the ground. That's the first objective. But good jumpers are able to be quicker off the ground, and able to position themselves better in the air. I think Skelton due to his strength, his size, will always struggle to compete in the air as well as a slighter built player as him moving around will affect his stability in the air more, as he is shifting more bulk.

 

[BDA]

Playing Skelton next weekend is definitely a gamble.

He's come on leaps and bounds this year, and has actually managed to get some pretty decent "big game" experience this season with two finals appearances and one test. A full test season in the Wallabies squad, including the EOYT and another Super season next year and Skelton will probably be coming into the peak of his powers at the world cup. By then he'll have developed most aspects of his game, he'll have improved his cardio and he'll have a good foundation of experience against most of the top tier teams in world rugby. By then Link will also have a better understanding of his limitations and strengths, in particular how to get the most out of him in attack and at the line-out.

At the moment, Skelton is a bit raw and so it is a bit difficult to know what we will get out of him this weekend. My observations of him during the Super season are that he's still a bit inconsistent. He generally came out and made a good impact, but there were other games when his involvement didn't seem to help. His set piece work in particular ( not just in the line-out but also his scrummaging) was sometimes poor.

If Skeleton was to play this weekend he could either win us the game, or he could be a bit of a liability. More often that not in 2014 he has proven to be the former, but against the world's best side, with a strong set piece, its possible he could be the latter.

The safer option is Horwill. He definitely wont be a liability, although he's also not likely to win you the game with a moment of magic either.

At the rate Skelton has risen to prominence over the last 12 months I have no doubt in my mind he'll be one of our best forwards in 2015, but he probably has another 12 months in his development before he is the world class lock some people are painting him as.

So he's a gamble for sure. One worth taking? perhaps. I'll leave that upto Link.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Well said. Skelton is a gamble. He's a gamble because whilst there are doubts, he could very well pay off.

I lean towards Horwill over Skelton, because Horwill at his best is what I think we need to be a competitive team and Horwill at his best is what a team like the All Blacks would select. Even at his best, Skelton still contains weaknesses in his game (Set Piece and Work Rate)

Horwill whilst improving, like Skelton isn't yet, isn't at his best though. I think it could rightly go either way and anybody who says it's an easy decision is just looking at the highlight reel.

 

[Floggn']

Back to the front row. I can't believe Greg Holmes doesn't get a look in. It was his best season since wallabies 2007/8. The reds front row was great all year I don't really know why he is on the outer he is only 31 which is a good age for a prop.

 

[Highlander35]

Because Alexander was the incumbent from the EOYT, Kepu was the incumbent from the French series, and Weeks has had a better season than Holmes, both around the ground and at Scrum time, but even he wouldn't get a look in if Sio was fit, or Longbottom wasn't going to Sarries.

 

[Brumbieman]

I wouldn't pick Skelton for the first Bled, he isn't ready IMHO

Carter & Simmons to start, Horwill on the bench.

My reasoning is fear of a scenario.

Simmons goes down in the first 5 minutes, a Carter & Skelton locking set for 75 minutes?

Whilst i like what Skelton can do, I want him to learn more before setting him at the ABs for long minutes.

But that does depend on the bench set up, if we load forwards and are prepared to throw Fardy in at lock in a pinch?

So many options .....

I reckon our scrum wouldn't be under too much pressure though.

 

[Braveheart81]

I have no idea if Skelton will be picked for the first Bledisloe but I'm certain we'll see him during the Rugby Championship.

If Link didn't plan to use him then he would have either picked 5 locks or a different 4th lock.

The upside Skelton offers is obvious to see. If you can get the team to cover for his deficiency in the lineout he becomes a good option.

 

[Braveheart81]

Tolu Latu just broke his arm.

Presumably Saia Fainga'a will get called up.

Front rowers are dropping like flies.

 

[Wilson]

Tolu Latu just broke his arm.

Presumably Saia Fainga'a will get called up.

Front rowers are dropping like flies.

Still 10 minutes or so to go in the premier rugby semi, here's hoping he survives it

 

[TOCC]

Weeks and Tomane both ruled out for a few weeks...

Tom English and Paddy Ryan added to the squad....

Paddy Ryan coming into the squad just highlights how shallow the depth is at tighthead prop.

 

[ChargerWA]

Tolu Latu just broke his arm.

Presumably Saia Fainga'a will get called up.

Front rowers are dropping like flies.

Saia is a good and obvious option, but I wonder how far away Heath Tessman is from getting a crack. I think his problem is he's a bit small. But I like his skills.

 

[Wilson]

Saia is a good and obvious option, but I wonder how far away Heath Tessman is from getting a crack. I think his problem is he's a bit small. But I like his skills.

At this point he's probably next after Fainga'a, though Leafa has had more game time this year. Hopefully we wont need any more hookers this year, but if we do thank god the NRC will be keeping them fit and providing options.

 

[Gnostic]

Weeks and Tomane both ruled out for a few weeks.

Tom English and Paddy Ryan added to the squad..

Paddy Ryan coming into the squad just highlights how shallow the depth is at tighthead prop.

I was very interested to see UNI (and Ryan in particular) getting pushed off the ball a few times by the Souths non Super scrum.

 

[qwerty51]

With no Tim Metcher either.

 

[wamberal]

Jeremy Tilse is a pretender. How he has survived so long is beyond me.