40 - 44

42 - 10

18 - 16

16 - 26

37 - 7

25 - 0

22 - 19

36 - 20

59 - 21

40 - 11

20 - 29

30 - 29

20 - 17

20 - 52

Friday

14:10

Saracens in the dark about Michael Cheika's latest play for Will Skelton

By Chris Jones

20 Aug 2019

Will Skelton's form at Saracens was excellent in 2018/19 (Photo by Dave Rogers/Getty Images)

Saracens insist they have not had any contact from Rugby Australia despite Wallaby coach Michael Cheika revealing he will make a last-ditch attempt to convince Will Skelton to quit Europe’s top club and return to Australia and earn a place in the World Cup squad for Japan.

Cheika admits there are major obstacles to this happening but, given the way Skelton has transformed his body shape and rugby in recent times, getting the second row into the squad would give the Wallabies some much need ball-carrying power in a World Cup pool that includes current world No1 Wales and Fiji.

Mark McCall, the Saracens director of rugby, made it clear when Skelton signed a new contract with the club at the end of last season that it was on the basis that he would be able to cover the gaps in the club’s squad while Maro Itoje and George Kruis were on finals duty with England.

RugbyPass understands that Saracens have not as yet received any calls from RA about Skelton and expect him to continue at the club as they prepare for the new season.

Cheika, who names his 31-man squad for Japan on Friday, said in the wake of last weekend’s loss to the All Blacks that he planned to call Skelton. He confirmed at Fox Sports’ Rugby World Cup launch: “The team gets picked soon, so if he wants to come home he needs to get on the phone pretty quick.

NEW PODCAST! ???
Hear what Michael Cheika and Kurtley Beale had to say at today's Fox Sports #RugbyWorldCup launch.
With @nickmcardlefox, @ChristypDoran, @swainy7 + @samworthingtown: https://t.co/yH1NiOJIbD pic.twitter.com/mny3xCGaxJ
— Fox Rugby (@FOXRUGBY) August 20, 2019

“I have coached him here at the Waratahs and he was selected in the last World Cup team, so he knows what it’s about, he knows what it means and he will make the call that will best reflect how he is feeling.

“(We will make some) realistic phone calls over there to get a final opinion and see if he wants to be involved or not. It’s not just a decision based on the World Cup, it’s also the long-term about where he plays his footy. It’s a big decision for him as well.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxF5tWdhR_7/

“Rugby Australia has got a good set of rules that give an opportunity to players who want to come home to have a bit of the best of both worlds.”

RA’s policy is that only players with 60 Tests to their name and seven years of Super Rugby experience can return for the Wallabies from overseas clubs, but former double World Cup winner Tim Horan is calling for a change to the rule.

“I get the Giteau rule… but I’m a big believer in a World Cup year you should be able to select anyone from around the world (no matter) where they are playing. Get the best team that gives us the best opportunity to win a World Cup.”

WATCH: Wallaby coach Michael Cheika and captain Michael Hooper after Bledisloe Two

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Tom Wright, Len Ikitau and Noah Lolesio are playing their best rugby just over a year after being frozen out by Eddie Jones.

LONG READ

'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

England's top-flight is turning out soft players incapable of withstanding the pressures of international rugby.

LONG READ

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

With the Springboks coming to town, and an 11-game losing streak expected to become 12, there are calls for change in Wales

Comments on RugbyPass

JW 9 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yeah fishy. Moana Pasifika are only just now at the point were they would have been on entry if it wasn't a COVID reaction team. Hard to see a league like that coming in with half assed teams in a years time (2026 given kickoff date) and being successful. That part certainly sounds bogus.

I assume by a lot you mean the same amount of money? 700k euro (or maybe pound as on times website) was average wage quoted. Can't see why it wouldn't be enough. Thought this could be done in this neck of the woods and this idea is taking it to the biggest cities/bidders in the world no doubt so the match day/weekend revenue is going to be through the roof if they sell out venues like the 7s does.

It's just that thing again were it needs to start off with a hiss and a roar, can't see it happening by 2026. France has over 200 foreign players alone you'd think would be happy to do the same thing they do in France, just in more varied cities, and for a much shorter period of time. Going to have to see a lot of players taking up 1-2 year extensions/contracts before we know something is building up.

204 Go to comments

Cantab 15 minutes ago

Seven Springboks changes for tour-ending game versus Wales

Can't see the Welsh getting close to the Boks. A massacre in prospect.

6 Go to comments

LW 22 minutes ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

No question that eddie jones is the biggest myth of a coach in rugby... bigger even than gatland and that's saying something

13 Go to comments

SM 41 minutes ago

Former All Blacks have their say ahead of Italy team selection

Get rid of Jeff Wilson, he is the most,"NEGATIVE THING," I have listened to since his first appearance on a Rugby Channel!

Eevery person that has coached the The All Blacks, Jeff Wilson has to run them down, or badly Belittle them, as "THOUGH little Jeff wilson THINKS he's the man FOR THE JOB.

To give you a look into a jeff Wilson coaching session.

(1) Arrive at 5.30pm on dot, leave training gear changing room, then head to the bar upstairs.

(2) Grab a empty glass, size doesn't matter behind bar then head to keg at end of bar fill your glass and drink........

(3) Wait until everyone has turned up, until everyone has turned up I want you to do your elbow bending exercise.

(4) After 3 and a hours when anyone, or everyone has had enough of elbow bending, you can all go home.

THANK'S FOR COMING!

Same Time Tomorrow.

3 Go to comments

JW 49 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

BOO hahaha

204 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You must not understand the point WN. France were every chance to win in 1995, so close in that rain sodden match it was literally a toss of the coin. Ditto in 2011.

The point being it shows teams whether or not they have the metal, so even if you have examples of full strength sides losing every game, they still know the kind of bar they need to meet (NZ being in this case just a team that is nearly always up around that bar needed to win). France sends a side missing key components? It's very easy for them to believe they are still good enough when they aren't, or their best players not to release they need to try and acheive getting better..

204 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Is that about the prestige of the crown more than the participation with those teams though?

I reckon the other europeans country's teams really enjoy having a classic French club visit for Cup pool games etc?

It's not "and they are the most successful..", it's "because they are the most successful..", but I digress, I agree with your point, I just wonder that if because the other two comps/teams likely want more filler games (a pre knockout pool stage), and LNR's might be getting to the stage where they don't, skipping that part might be a fair common ground to meet (so not above having your cake etc).

The real shakeup could be this new world league though. None of the French mercenaries are going to say, 'yes, please I want to be working for 10 or 11 months of every year' to the LNR teams trying to keep their coachs and players from joining the rebel league.

204 Go to comments

NH 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Nice one brett and full circle for these brumbies boys who also formed the spine of Rennie's wallabies for a chunk of his tenure. As you and others have said, I'm most happy for Noah given the ups and downs he has had over the last couple of years. I have spent alot of time telling others to be patient and to point out the good things he was doing in those earlier games this year while everyone seemed fixated on the 2-3 errors he was making. Luckily shmidt is patient and level-headed and persisted with him allowing his confidence to grow. I said from the start, I didn't care who he picked at 10 out of noah, donno and lynagh (although I thought noah deserved it on SR form), we had to stick with them and let them grow in the new system, we couldn't chop and change. As you say, to me noah is playing like Ford or Foley where his skill is in organising the play and getting the ball to the right person, at the right time, in the right part of the field rather than a quade/M smith (also quality players) who are going to create 5 linebreaks a game single handedly. What hasn't been talked about enough under schmidts tenure and in these winning games because the focus has been on the flashy tries, is that the wallabies are finally managing the game well. They are getting more 22 entries, more territory, less penalties, less turnovers etc etc. These are things the wallabies have struggled with for a long time and are finally getting right. The difference in turnovers at the ruck and lineout was a huge factor in this wales game, suaalii and his restart turnovers vs england etc...

13 Go to comments

DC000 1 hour ago

Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

Because he plays more than 40 minutes every match. Something the Saffas are too out of shape to do.

8 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Once they see their match day revenue go up on average, their fan engagement increase, as a result of a better competition, they should be OK with it. Also less costs battling with players trying to change their contracts or ask for rest, and pay injury insurance, maybe they don't need those B team players on their balance sheets anymore as well?

Nar that's actually a good idea, I thought they already had some representation but in the Champions Cup would be better. This is such a flexible and easy way to make change that it doesn't need to be permeant. I'd imagine other teams would be happier with a shorter/smaller pool phase (without the French drawcards?) though, I just know that teams like the Cheetahs would be hanging out for a few extra competitive games.

204 Go to comments

RW 1 hour ago

Super Rugby Aupiki and Super W champions set to square off in 2025

Great news

1 Go to comments

Mike 1 hour ago

Junior Kpoku snubs England approach to extend Top 14 deal - report

Note the reference to "JIFF" status from 2026. Does that mean that Junior will no longer count against the foreign player quota, or that he becomes eligible for France via residency at that point? I think France have a policy of only picking players who have or are in the process to obtain French passports, but again, if he's lived and worked there for the required period, presumably that's doable?

Massive test match potential from that England U20 squad. Be a damn shame if we don't get to see it in the white shirt at test level because they can make a better living playing rugby somewhere else, or worse still, playing for someone else!

5 Go to comments

A Rod 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Ikitau was coming back from an injury v South Africa

13 Go to comments

Brett McKay 2 hours ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Still more than a few MacAussies that will be in the same boat, Derek! 😄

13 Go to comments

Brett McKay 2 hours ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Scotland will be a massive Test MJ, no question. And it was always going to be, within this schedule.

But, I do feel like the Wallabies are in a much better position to handle/contain/compete with the Scots now than was the case at the end of the TRC, so I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really excited about this game this weekend..

13 Go to comments

Brett McKay 2 hours ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

He certainly looks comfortable in this system Schmidt has them playing JD, no doubt about that..

13 Go to comments

Willie 2 hours ago

Former All Blacks have their say ahead of Italy team selection

Cane definitely earned his keep with not only his performance but talking/motivating the younger players. They could have left Yapper at home.

3 Go to comments

NH 2 hours ago

How leviathan Will Skelton and the Wallabies reversed the World Cup fiasco

What have you thought of the two hookers nick? Schmidt clearly seems to prefer Faessler. Do you see much between them? I know you like BPA for his scrummaging.