Michael Cheika wants Waratahs lock Will Skelton to prove Reds wrong on lineout claim

THE Reds have signalled out Will Skelton as a weak link in NSW lineout - so Waratahs coach has urged the Wallaby lock to prove them wrong.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Will Skelton of the Waratahs looks on during a Waratahs Super Rugby training session at Kippax Lake on July 8, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

WILL Skelton has been given a starting spot against Queensland after Reds rival Rob Simmons said he would weaken the Waratahs’ lineout.

NSW coach Michael Cheika said he wanted Skelton to prove Simmons wrong in the derby game at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, while also revealing that he told Cam Crawford he would be replacing the injured Israel Folau while their cars were stuck side by side in Sydney traffic.

Cheika has ramped up the heat ahead of the interstate clash, using Simmons’ comments as fuel despite the game having no relevance in the greater scheme, with the Tahs having already sewn up top spot and a home semi-final.

Simmons had mistakenly believed Skelton was coming in for Kane Douglas instead of Jacques Potgieter earlier this week and said: “Skelton does probably weaken it a bit with Kano, he’s pretty good in the lineout.

“After Stephen Hoiles being the caller, Kano is probably their second go-to.

“I think they’ll shorten their lineout, go to more five-mans, and have big Willie run in midfield.

“We’re the number three lineout in defence, so that’s the place we like to put pressure on all season.”

Round 19 Super Rugby preview: finals spots on the line

The playoffs equation: All the final-round ramifications

Cheika seized on the comments and told the 135kg Skelton — who is perceived as a non-jumping option due to his weight — before Thursday’s training after announcing that he would start alongside Douglas.

“Will hasn’t had a start for a while and I want to make sure he’s got that,” Cheika said.

“I’m giving him some other responsibilities, he may call lineouts at some stage during the game.

“Simmons has said that we’re going to be weaker in the lineout with Willie playing, and I want Willie to rise to that challenge and say, ‘No, we’re not going to be weaker in the lineouts when I’m playing, we’re going to be just as good as we are normally’.

“He won’t start calling, obviously Stephen will, and then I’d like to give him that responsibility at some stage during the game.

Michael Cheika wants Will Skelton to step up against the Reds.

“I think that’s something that all his career people will say he’s big — it’s already happened — we’re going to be weak in the lineout.

“I like to try to do the opposite of what everyone thinks, if he’s going to the weakness let’s give him the responsibility there and make him an integral part of the lineout.

“And then that can’t be said about him going forward.

“That’s part of developing players, and I’m not saying it’s going to be perfect, I know he’ll make a few mistakes calling lineouts and I’m ready for that, I don’t worry about it.”

Cheika said lifting Skelton was not an issue for his teammates.

“I don’t think so, they’re lifting big chunks of metal every day in there (the gym), they should be ready to lift him,” Cheika said.

“He’s got a jump as well, he jumps well. I know he’s not going to be the all-time best jumper in the world, but he’ll do his job and that’s all we’re asking the guys to do.

“What won’t happen is that he won’t be a non-option.”

Prop Benn Robinson added: “He’s fine, he’s got a good jump on him big Will, I lift him even on single work on some restarts as well.

“When you see a player like Will in the lineout, you know he means business.

“In my first year of rugby as a scrummager, as a loosehead prop, I don’t think I knew everything and I still don’t think I know everything.

“It’s a chance for Will, for me, each week we play to get better at his position.”

Cheika is resting superstar Folau, who suffered a corked thigh in last weekend’s match against the Highlanders, but the fullback has been running this week and will be fit for the semi-final on July 26.

Crawford, who is joining Melbourne Rebels from next season, will start at No. 15.

“I told him in traffic this morning when I pulled up next to him on Anzac Parade,” Cheika revealed.

“I wound the window down and told him he was playing.

“I wasn’t really sure if that was the right thing to do or not, but he seemed to enjoy it.

“And then I wound the window up and didn’t give him a chance to talk back to me.

“It was a new strategy, I haven’t done that before, it was cool.

“I’m really confident in him because he has delivered for us many times over the past 18-19 months that we’ve been together, and even though we’re sad to see him go we want to give him the opportunity to contribute to his team.

“Cam’s leaving us at the end of the year, this is his opportunity to give something to next year’s team, come in, play well, leave his mark on the season.

“He’s had a few starts, hasn’t had a lot. As Alofa [Alofa] has done since he announced he was leaving, contribute something for this year and also leave something behind for next year’s team, whoever takes that spot for him.

“That’s a cultural thing we’re trying to develop here, and he’s up for that challenge.”

Cam Crawford will start at fullback for the Waratahs.

Cheika rejected the notion his side relied too heavily on Folau in attack.

“I don’t think we do rely on Izzy to finish, it’s not like we say, ‘Quick, get the ball to Israel and see if we can score’,” he said.

“We just play our game, and he is a smart character so he just ends up in the places where he needs to be to score.

“That’s why he is a good player, he can sniff it out, he can see a phase or two phases ahead, and he is a quality athlete so he can put himself in a position to get there.

“That’s going to be Cam’s job this week, be strong under the high ball, and when the lines are on to run, hit them.

“[Folau] just got a cork in the game on the weekend, he played through that so he is pretty good, but my strategy this week was that anyone with an injury that could possibly exacerbate, there was no point in playing that person.

“There were a couple in there, Israel, Kane [Douglas], Alofa, they all sat out training and since then the other two we feel are no risk, and therefore we decided to give Israel this week off and get him right for the semi-final.

“Of course you lose a lot of attacking prowess, a lot of security under the high ball as well, and he’s a strong defensive man.

“I’ve seen in the paper our winning and losing [record] when Israel’s playing and when he’s not playing, but I think we’ve lost just as many when he’s playing as when he’s not playing (lost two, won one).

“Rugby is a game of 15 men playing on the field at any one time, and even though he’s a very strong influence — I’m not going to pretend that he’s not — but we’re comfortable to play when he’s not playing, the same style we would normally.”

Waratahs: Cam Crawford, Alofa Alofa, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper (c), Stephen Hoiles, Kane Douglas, Will Skelton, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Tolu Latu, Jeremy Tilse, Mike Alaalatoa, Jacques Potgieter, Mitchell Chapman, Pat McCutcheon, Brendan McKibbin, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Jono Lance (one to be omitted).

Originally published as Michael Cheika wants Waratahs lock Will Skelton to prove Reds wrong on lineout claim