Waratahs 2015

[Lee Grant]

Skelton would be fine as a tighthead lock but you have to have a 6 or 8 who is near enough to a specialist lineout man. Mowen was of that type and the lineout sergeant as well.

Mowen wasn't the best Wallaby who ever was but he was undervalued, as would have been more obvious had Simmons gone down. There are not many good lineout bosses in the country.

Skelton's international career goes in step with that of Fardy playing 6, or someone of his type like Luke Jones.

On the other hand: Brad Thorn was never the most skilful lineout man but they played him in the front where nifty footwork wasn't required and he took a couple in most test matches. He didn't have to be the brightest either because the repertoire for front ball is smaller and there is not so much to learn—or forget.

Skelton may be better for test rugby than we think.

Maybe.
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[Braveheart81]

It just seems so strange to me to become fixated on Skelton's biggest weakness and rather than work around that assume that he needs to fix that before he becomes a useful rugby player. He showed this year that he can play an important role in the matchday side every week of the team that won Super Rugby.

It would be akin to someone making a decision that despite everything else, David Campese's defence was a liability and he can't possibly play for the Wallabies again until he fixes it.

 

[TOCC]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing Skelton at lock despite his limited use in the line out, team selections are all about balance, Skelton has incredible value in adding strength to the scrums, in his ball running, and moving bodies at rucks and mauls. His line out ability isn't the best, nor is his work rate, however that just means you need to balance the selections in the back row with someone who can be used as a line out option and who has a higher work rate.

 

[topgun]

I'm still not sure why you'd try and reinvent Skelton as a number 8 because he's not a top lineout option.

He then becomes a number 8 who's not good in the lineout but also doesn't have the pace or acceleration nor engine of a number 8.

The guy is over 2m and weighs somewhere between 135 and 140kg. Why not just work on improving his skills as a lock, particularly those that are already his strengths? He is literally the biggest player ever to play for the Wallabies and he is very skillful to boot.

My logic stems from the thought that when Skelton comes on a reliable lineout option (usually a lineout specialist) is sacrificed. However No.8 isn't a typical jumping position but still an option. You want him on the field making an impact, working hard as he does, use Opeti Fonua as an example

 

[Braveheart81]

My logic stems from the thought that when Skelton comes on a reliable lineout option (usually a lineout specialist) is sacrificed. However No.8 isn't a typical jumping position but still an option. You want him on the field making an impact, working hard as he does, use Opeti Fonua as an example

Why would Skelton try to become more like Fonua?

It's probably the opposite direction of where he needs to take his game.

He's probably already ahead of Fonua as a rugby player.

 

[topgun]

Why would Skelton try to become more like Fonua?

It's probably the opposite direction of where he needs to take his game.

He's probably already ahead of Fonua as a rugby player.

Not like Fonua... you get what I mean surely: how they use Fonua. Skelton's got a far bigger engine than him anyway.
It's all fine to be armchair critics I suppose, this is all hypothetical

 

[Inside Shoulder]

I'm sorry what? Skelton is 'too big to be any use'?

I've seen plenty of rubbish talked on this forum but I think this takes the cake.

Even the most cursory glance at the 3rd French test would render your observation laughable.

In a country crying out for big angry bastards like Skelton I am amazed that anyone would possess this view. Especially a Tahs fan who saw the central role he played in or season.



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We shall see but in the meantime your usual personal crap will keep me going

 

[Braveheart81]

We shall see

Haven't we already seen?

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Haven't we already seen?

he has been hailed as the messiah

 

[qwerty51]

This is what I don't get, there seems to be a ton of criticism but he was bloody useful for the Tahs. Very happy with him.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

This is what I don't get, there seems to be a ton of criticism but he was bloody useful for the Tahs. Very happy with him.

Yes - I may be in the wrong thread: he works at s 15 level

 

[Braveheart81]

Yes - I may be in the wrong thread: he works at s 15 level

On the face value of three test appearances you'd have to say he works at test level too. His first game against France was an amazing debut.

His first Bledisloe off the bench he was alright and produced a couple of good plays including an excellent offload.

His second Bledisloe didn't go too well but we got flogged.

I have no problems with McKenzie deciding he isn't in his matchday 23 right now but I don't think that equates to a decision that he isn't ready or appropriate for test football.

 

[Sully]

I think Skelton can have a great career as a wallaby second rower. I don't think he has to be amazing in the lineout simple serviceable. And two seems to be the best position for him. Regardless of this whether he jumps or lifts is irrelevant. I think he should work on playing whole games ( I know 'duh' right)

As for those calling fr him to play in the back row I'm sorry but I just can't see it. Too big and too slow. But I've been wrong before. once.

 

[topgun]

I think Skelton can have a great career as a wallaby second rower. I don't think he has to be amazing in the lineout simple serviceable. And two seems to be the best position for him. Regardless of this whether he jumps or lifts is irrelevant. I think he should work on playing whole games ( I know 'duh' right)

As for those calling fr him to play in the back row I'm sorry but I just can't see it. Too big and too slow. But I've been wrong before. once.

I just want him on the field, tif that's what it takes then play him at fullback...

 

[Lee Grant]

But I've been wrong before. once.

That makes it twice Sully.
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[Sully]

That makes it twice Sully.
.

It hasn't happened yet Lee.

 

[barbarian]

Roosters/Cowboys only got 18,000 last week, on the back of just 24,000 to Souths/Manly last week.

Shows it's not just rugby that is having crowd issues at the moment.
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[Ash]

Skelton also needs to get his backside and shoulders down in the scrum, he packs too high. I suspect it may be a flexibility issue as he struggles with being larger than the other lock. He is also guilty of lots of flopping at rucks, which is understandable given his size and fitness.

I reckon with another year or two of conditioning he will hopefully have most of the fat off of him, assuming nothing goes wrong. Losing some fat and putting a bit of muscle mass to get down to, say, 125 - 130 (or whatever) would mean a big difference as he could become an alternate lineout option and carry less mass (to make work around the park easier). It should also fix the flopping problems.

On top of that, it's been a long season and we've seen his effectiveness start to taper off in some, where in the Reds game and final he had little impact, and now the NRC.

So yeah, I agree that this year it's a bit much for him, but keep a watch in the next few years if he can keep working at the conditioning.

 

[Badger]

The choice should be easy for the Waratahs Board.

Lehmann at Large: Coach issues warning over Tahs’ boss

• John Lehmann
• The Daily Telegraph
• September 06, 2014 12:00AM

VICTORIOUS NSW Waratahs coach Michael Cheika has warned he’ll head for the door unless CEO Jason Allen moves on.

The history-making coach has been telling others that because of their poor relationship he does not want to hang around if Allen stays, sources say.

It’s an open secret among Waratahs staff that Cheika and Allen, a former South Australian Motor Sport Board boss, have clashing personalities.

“They have offices right near each other but they almost seem to go out of their way not to cross paths,’’ one source said.

One well-connected businessman told me that Allen, who has led the Tahs to profitability, had been “applying for jobs all over town” after the Tah’s Super Rugby triumph.

The schism has burst into the open as a joint Australian Rugby union and Waratahs committee, led by ex-NAB chief Cameron Clyne, assess whether the rugby franchise should be privatised.

A group led by Pet Resorts founder David Levy, who also owns a Rose Bay chicken shop, and ANZ Stadium manager Stadium Australia Operations, have both submitted proposals, sources say.

Former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer is also leading a consortium and offered to pump $2 million a year into the game’s development as part of the deal.

But his bid is believed to have been rejected, although Dwyer says he is still waiting for an update.

ARU chief Bill Pulver is keen to pull private money into the revenue-challenged game — making some high-powered rugby followers nervous.

The smart money is on a new ownership model being set up, with Stadium Australia taking a stake in the franchise alongside the NSWRU.

It is understood Stadium Australia has proposed that the Tahs not be forced to stage more games at ANZ, away from their Moore Park heartland.

Allen referred my request for comment to Waratahs Rugby communications head Nicki Drinkwater. She said the CEO was on holiday and “probably not thinking about work” when asked about his difficult relations with Cheika.

Cheika, who is contracted until the end of next season, declined to comment.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...g-over-tahs-boss/story-fnniow7v-1227049443196

Disagree with the comment that Allen has led the Tahs to profitability when the Tahs reported a loss of $96,325 in 2013. This is before his declaration of the precarious financial position of the franchise at the beginning of the season in The Australian. The two finals gate takings would have helped, but that would be predominantly attributable to Cheiks, his team and the players.

 

[topgun]

Skelton also needs to get his backside and shoulders down in the scrum, he packs too high. I suspect it may be a flexibility issue as he struggles with being larger than the other lock. He is also guilty of lots of flopping at rucks, which is understandable given his size and fitness.

I reckon with another year or two of conditioning he will hopefully have most of the fat off of him, assuming nothing goes wrong. Losing some fat and putting a bit of muscle mass to get down to, say, 125 - 130 (or whatever) would mean a big difference as he could become an alternate lineout option and carry less mass (to make work around the park easier). It should also fix the flopping problems.

On top of that, it's been a long season and we've seen his effectiveness start to taper off in some, where in the Reds game and final he had little impact, and now the NRC.

So yeah, I agree that this year it's a bit much for him, but keep a watch in the next few years if he can keep working at the conditioning.

What is this crap about losing weight? He could probably drop about 5 kilos, the rest is the reason why he is such an imposing player. He's never going to be a good line out option so chuck him at 8 lose that 5kg and bust arse all around the park