Joe Schmidt: Key Will Skelton trait as Wallabies boss keeps snubbed star ‘close by’
Wallabies second-rowers Will Skelton and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (inset).
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has revealed his reasoning behind recalling Will Skelton to his matchday squad for the second Test against the British & Irish Lions and the continuous omission of Lukhan Sakalaia-Loto.
After missing the first Test defeat to the famous touring team in Brisbane last week due to calf injuries, behemoth second-rower Skelton and star back-rower Rob Valetini have both been declared fit for Saturday’s clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Straight into the starting line-up
Skelton comes into the starting team as a replacement for Jeremy Williams while back-to-back John Eales Medallist Valetini replaces Nick Champion de Crespigny on the blindside flank.
Williams drops down to the replacements bench which means there is no place in the matchday squad for Salakaia-Loto, who has delivered impressive performances in three previous outings against the British and Irish Lions, albeit in defeats while in action for the Reds, AUNZ Invitational XV and the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
Skelton weighs 135 kilograms and is 2,03 metres tall which makes him a real asset for the Wallabies at close quarters, especially in giving them momentum in the rucks and mauls.
However, due to his weight, he is a non-jumping lock which will prove challenging for the hosts against the Lions but despite Tom Hooper impressing off the bench in the first Test and Salakaia-Loto‘s superb form against the tourists, neither could crack the Wallabies‘ matchday squad.
“One of the things last week, we didn’t quite get some of the lineout platforms that we’re used to, and you can initiate a little bit of momentum from those, and when we didn’t get that, we were a little bit static,” Schmidt told reporters.
“I think Tom Hooper is very unlucky to miss out, but Will and his experience just allows us to have a look at something slightly different this week because I thought Tom came off the bench and did really well.
‘We’ve got him pretty close by’
“I’ve spoken to Lukhan since the Pasifika game, spoke to him before the game. We’ve got him pretty close by.
“To be fair, I thought Darcy Swain was very good as well. If you have a look back at the lineout and around the field… Darcy Swain did really well as well.
“There’s a couple of guys that we’re certainly still in conversation with and can add value going further ahead and maybe even in the shorter term.”
Schmidt opened up on Skelton’s selection saying the 33-year-old’s experience will be a crucial factor as the Wallabies aim to draw level in the three-Test series.
“I think one of the key things with Will is he’s a very calm influence,” said Schmidt.
“His experience and his history of being involved in successful teams, particularly with La Rochelle in Europe, I think it just gives other players confidence.
“We’ve got a group of players who haven’t won too much in recent times, whether it’s in Super Rugby or whether it’s internationally, and so I think building confidence is an incremental thing.
“Will has accumulated that experience, he knows what it’s like to play these players. He’s played them regularly, and he’s won against them regularly.”
