Michael Cheika’s plan to turn Will Skelton into a Wallabies World Cup weapon

HE averages 20 minutes off the bench, but if all goes to Michael Cheika’s plan Wallabies giant Will Skelton will be ready to go the distance at the World Cup.

France v Australia - International Match

IT’S a scary thing, but Will Skelton is still growing.

Not physically — at 203cm and a conservative 137kgs, the Wallaby giant is probably as big as a footballer should ever be — but mentally he is learning more every day about what it means to play at the elite level.

Skelton has come off the bench as an impact player late in each of the Wallabies three Tests on the Spring tour, and will play the same role against England on Sunday morning (AEDT).

He has been averaging around 20 minutes a game, a time span coach Michael Cheika hopes to increase incrementally, first at the Waratahs in next year’s Super Rugby season and then in the The Rugby Championship before, all going to plan, Skelton is ready to play a full 80 minutes at the World Cup if required.

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Cheika has made no secret of his plan to change the Wallaby forward game to encompass more direct power running and aggressive defence. It is a style of play the 22 year-old Skelton was born for, as Cheika realised the first time he clapped eyes on him.

“It was when I came to the Waratahs before the 2013 season,” Cheika recalled.

Will Skelton charges ahead for the Wallabies.

“About Christmas time we were doing pre-season and I wanted to give the team a contact session, so I asked the lads from the academy to send along some of their young blokes to provide opposition.

“I didn’t know Will, but he turned up and he was pole-axing our guys, picking them up and tipping them on their heads. We had a break and went into two huddles and I went over from our group to theirs and I said, ‘hey mate, go over there. You’re in that group now’. And that was it. He’s stayed in the top group ever since and hasn’t looked out of place at all.”

Far from it in fact. He was a key player in the Waratahs’ Super Rugby championship season and in some matches totally decimated opposition defences. Given his size and power, there was an expectation that he would automatically have the same impact at international level, but it has not always been the case. Against France two weeks ago he failed to make an impression, but bounced back well last weekend against Ireland.

“I think he’s learning about the intensity of the step up,” Cheika said.

“He got caught one week when he didn’t prepare well and it cost him, but apart from that I think he’s been really good on tour.

“He’s young. He’s still maturing as a footballer.”

While Skelton is obviously aware of his physical attributes, he says there is more to his game than basic bash and barge, despite what the public might think.

“I think I’ve shown in the past that I’m not just that physical presence,” he said this week after a solid training run in London. “I want to be that, but it’s more the subtle stuff as well.

“If I get an off-load away, or if I’m dragging in players for us to play out wide, then that’s perfect. I’ll walk off from a game and think I’ve done my job.

“Everyone’s got the own opinions. I know a lot of people have expectations of how I play, but Cheik and the coaching staff know what I bring to the team so I’m willing to truck it up and if I get an off-load away, that’s good.”

He is also willing to bide his time on the bench, even though he desperately wants to be a starter. So much so, that he couldn’t keep off the field against Ireland. When Nick Phipps scored a try, it wasn’t one of his on-field teammates who ran up to congratulate him first, but Skelton who was warming up with the reserves near the in-goal.

“I always want to start,” he said.

“Every member of the squad wants to start but it’s a team game where every player has his own role and you’ve got to get that detail right for the match.

“It’s tough. I find it harder to be on the bench than starting to be honest because you never know when you’re going to come on. You’ve got to be mentally prepared for the whole week and make sure you’re ready to go.

“It could be after five minutes and you play the rest of the game or it could be with 20 minutes to go. You have to be always on edge and always ready for those confrontations when you get on the field.

“It’s not what I’d pick, but Cheik’s the coach and he makes all the big choices. He knows what I can provide for the team and I’ll back him 100 per cent.”