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Waratahs 2022

Drew

Bob Davidson (42)
The problem goes back before Gibson, we had a wallaby laden squad, Super Rugby winning side but the next tier of prime development options knew that if they went elsewhere they would get more game time and more $$$ - and then Wobs contingent all left at once. No one was brave enough to move on important players and refresh the squad

Skelton? one of the coaches said "you can't stop a player going through the KFC drive through after training" he always had immense talent, but it took going O/S for him to find the internal discipline to lean down and keep it off
I remember watching him at colts level, if his opposition could contain him for the first 15 of each half you had a chance. He bludged in the centres for the rest of the time.
 

Pass it to Dunning!

Bob Loudon (25)
Skelton was a bench impact player for much of his Waratahs career, and he was very effective at it. But his last year at the Tahs he was much more active and effective as a starter.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
It does seem a bit revisionist to suggest that Skelton did nothing before he left Australia. He was a long way from the finished product but he was an important part of a Super Rugby winning side and played a bunch of tests.

He's now become one of the best locks in World Rugby at least at club level. Hopefully we get a chance to see whether he can have that sort of influence at test level.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
It does seem a bit revisionist to suggest that Skelton did nothing before he left Australia. He was a long way from the finished product but he was an important part of a Super Rugby winning side and played a bunch of tests.

He's now become one of the best locks in World Rugby at least at club level. Hopefully we get a chance to see whether he can have that sort of influence at test level.
Even now he is just becoming a starter (Rennie's comments)

 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
To be fair, he was probably only a bench player at Saracens because they were breaching the salary cap by millions and had half the England team on contract.
True, but despite the hype, he isn't a complete lock, his lineout work needs to be compensated for in the pigs selections, so the fringe decisions in the back row has to come down to who is the better lineout option if we pick him to get the balance right
 

wamberal

Phil Kearns (64)
True, but despite the hype, he isn't a complete lock, his lineout work needs to be compensated for in the pigs selections, so the fringe decisions in the back row has to come down to who is the better lineout option if we pick him to get the balance right

If he is good enough, and fit enough, and can get up to speed with all the moves, calls, and tactics, I would like to see him start, especially against the Soap Dodgers.
 

Jimmy_Crouch

Ken Catchpole (46)
Anyone see the social media training video from today. Looks like Mahe Vailanu throwing a lineout (back of his head only so I could be mistaken). Great pickup if it is and it certainly makes sense
 

RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
Yep. He was mentioned earlier in the thread. Oh and that throw was incredibly underthrown. The 4 jumper caught it on his chest…
 

hifflepiff

Charlie Fox (21)
Joey Walton has torn his ACL at training which is a massive shame.

Hopefully he has a good recovery and can play later in the season next year.
That sucks big ones. Walton's looked like a good prospect but has been devastated by injuries. Was hoping to see him kick on this year.
Even more worrying is the injury itself. Bad ACLs can haunt players their whole career.
 

Rugbynutter39

Michael Lynagh (62)
That sucks big ones. Walton's looked like a good prospect but has been devastated by injuries. Was hoping to see him kick on this year.
Even more worrying is the injury itself. Bad ACLs can haunt players their whole career.
+1 ouch that is sad news after missing must have been all of last season. Such a bugger after his promising start in 2020. Fingers crossed he recovers from this as do feel for him as has rough ride with injuries.
 
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