Aus world cup

[paddy no 11]

They need to be taking Arnold, skelton and nick white to the world cup

[Puja]

Skelton, definitely - Saracens have turned him into a completely different player and he's become a very quality operator. But are they really so desperate as to need Nic White? He's never got above okay for Exeter and has frequently been rubbish.

Puja

[Lizard]

I’ve heard a lot of talk about Skelton being a new man. I haven’t seen him play recently but would be interested to see how much has changed.

[Puja]

I’ve heard a lot of talk about Skelton being a new man. I haven’t seen him play recently but would be interested to see how much has changed.

He runs rather than lumbers, has developed an offloading ability, works hard, and can play for 80 minutes. It is like a completely different player.

Puja

[Lizard]

OK, so if Old Skelton was a 1, and Brodie is a 10, on the BSM Scale (Big Skillful Man), where is New Skelton?

[paddy no 11]

8

[Puja]

OK, so if Old Skelton was a 1, and Brodie is a 10, on the BSM Scale (Big Skillful Man), where is New Skelton?

I'd say a 7. He's not Retallick in handling, but he's pretty good. Still got more emphasis on the B than the S, but he's got the fitness and pace to actually make use of it for more than 10 minutes at a time now.

Puja

[cashead]

Sitaleki Timani was definitely one who got away, and they'd really kill to have someone like him or his somewhat lesser brother.

If Cheika is absolutely determined to put Pocock in at either 6 or 8 to accommodate that shitty hyperactive Cabbage Patch Kid of a captain, Hooper, then he needs the 3rd spot to be given to somoene who can bring some muscle - the grunt to complement the finesse of Pocock and the... something... of Hooper - someone like Jack Dempsey or Pete Samu.

Rob Simmons in his last few years as a test player has actually become pretty fucking good by Aussie standards (he's no Sam Whitelock, but he's good enough), and someone like Rodda or Rory Arnold should be partnering with him. Adam Coleman is a big lumbering dipshit.

Looking at the potential squad though - fuck me, if those are some slim pickings Cheika's got to work with.

[Digby]

Additional to massive improvements in his conditioning is where Sarries have Skelton packing down in the scrum, which is behind the tighthead prop. The biggest scrummaging lock in the England squad we're told is Kruis, but Sarries when playing the pair seemingly think Skelton the stronger in the scrum, and if there's one club who go all moneyball in these scenarios it's Sarries.

[morepork]

What about the ever slappable Nic White? He seems to be attracting some praise.

[Puja]

What about the ever slappable Nic White? He seems to be attracting some praise.

Regularly box-kicks out on the full. Service is average to poor. Not noted for being exciting or creative. Stupid moustache.

Basically, if he wasn't Australian capped, there's no doubt England would be trying to poach him. Frankly, I've no idea why Australia would want him back.

Puja

[Digby]

White has been told he's in hasn't he?

[morepork]

That pretty much sums up my memories of him playing.

[Puja]

White has been told he's in hasn't he?

He has. With a particularly egregious bit of rule-bending as well - Australia don't select people who play abroad, but because he's signed a contract for the 20/21 season with a Super Rugby team, that's basically like he's already there, so that's fine.

Puja

[Digby]

Rule bending? It's their rule to amend as they see fit

[Digby]

As an aside there's often talk of clubs signing players in the hope they'll not feature for their nation going forwards. On which basis, and noting they'll surely lose Itoje and Kruis we can probably all agree fair play to Sarries for saying something along the lines of they'd be proud and delighted for Skelton to go to the RWC

[Puja]

As an aside there's often talk of clubs signing players in the hope they'll not feature for their nation going forwards. On which basis, and noting they'll surely lose Itoje and Kruis we can probably all agree fair play to Sarries for saying something along the lines of they'd be proud and delighted for Skelton to go to the RWC

Especially since it means they'll lose him back to Australia in 20-21 as he'd have to sign a similar pre-contract agreement to White.

They have got Isiekwe, Kpoku, Rhodes, and Kpoku the lesser though, plus Skelton will be coming back after the group stages, which probably helps with the generosity some.

Puja

[Digby]

I had heard Skelton might extend with Sarries and sign a loan deal back to soup rugby, how that actually works out and how long any loan deal might have to be I don't know. And too Sarries already have two excellent young English prospects to advance anyway at lock alongside Itoje and Kruis, losing Skelton would even help them stay still further inside the cap which is a serious ongoing concern of theirs

[Puja]

I had heard Skelton might extend with Sarries and sign a loan deal back to soup rugby.

Wow, Australia. Just wow. At that point, you need to be honest with yourselves and acknowledge that you don't have an overseas selection policy anymore and are going to select whoever the hell you like for the RWC.

Puja

[morepork]

I think Chekia would suck pretty much anyone off to get a squad with anything resembling depth in it at this stage.

[Digby]

I had heard Skelton might extend with Sarries and sign a loan deal back to soup rugby.

Wow, Australia. Just wow. At that point, you need to be honest with yourselves and acknowledge that you don't have an overseas selection policy anymore and are going to select whoever the hell you like for the RWC.

Puja

they're the new old Wales

[Lizard]

Raelene says Will needs to sign a 2 year deal in Super Rugby to be considered. Presumably, if he signs for buttons, Sarries can buy him out inside the 2 years though?

[Puja]

Raelene says Will needs to sign a 2 year deal in Super Rugby to be considered. Presumably, if he signs for buttons, Sarries can buy him out inside the 2 years though?

I don't know they'd care enough to do that. He's a much improved player, but they have already got Itoje, Kruis, Isiekwe, and Kpoku (last two are 21 and 20 and are going to be excellent), so he's a luxury rather than a necessity.

Puja

[Lizard]

Sure. But what I mean is there is a loophole in the rule generally.

[morepork]

Folau apparently set up to play for the Tongan national league side. And his brother. Fuck, he may even start a cult