Skelton criticism infuriates Chieka

Editor

Waratahs boss Michael Chieka has defended Will Skelton's fitness and conditioning after his release from the Australia camp.

Waratahs head coach Michael Chieka has defended Will Skelton's fitness and conditioning after his release from the Australia camp.

“He's just a huge guy. We have to make sure we can control … and he has to learn to control his condition. His body is growing whether he likes it or not. We have to manage that,” said Wallabies head coach Ewen McKenzie earlier this week.

Chieka has defended his player in response, underlining how unhappy he was with the comments.

“At the end of the day he has been in their camp for the last three weeks, eating their food and they've been training him. He doesn't get unfit by himself,” Cheika told the Daily Telegraph.

“I find it disappointing a player's fitness is being talked about like that in the public domain when they're dealing with him on a day-to-day basis. I don't understand that player management.

“Talking on Willy, as one of my players, a Waratahs player, I am not pleased with that. I don't agree with it, and I am not happy about it.

“I don't think that it's right. We will just have to agree to disagree.

“He trained hard with us, and ran hard and he was ready for whatever he played. Whether it was 80, or 50 or 40. He'd give his best.

“If training camps aren't for training then what are they for. I am not sure.”