Will Skelton on the charge for the Sydney Stars against Melbourne Rising at Leichhardt Oval.
Will Skelton is eager to do battle with the “big boppers” of South Africa after turning in 80-minute audition for the Sydney Stars in their loss to Melbourne Rising at Leichhardt Oval.
Whether the rugby equivalent of a fight scene from Jurassic Park — 140kg Skelton duelling with South Africa’s lumbering monsters — occurs at the start or the end of the Test in Perth remains to be seen, but the big lock did what was asked of him by seeing out the entire match.
It wasn’t a pleasant Sunday for the Stars — pumped 45-13 by Melbourne — but Ewen McKenzie said if Skelton was to be considered to start against South Africa, the impact player needed to display a capacity to play 80 minutes.
The Waratahs’ super-sub hadn’t done that in more than three months but came through comfortably.
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“It definitely felt good,” Skelton said.
“I have been itching to get out there the last couple of weeks and get a start and play the full 80. I am really happy with I guess just turning the legs over and getting that base stamina for the next game.”
Skelton was set to jump on the late plane to Perth on Sunday night, and said he was looking forward to a chance to play a maiden Test against South Africa.
“I am really looking forward to playing that brand of footy. They have some big boppers and I am really looking forward to the confrontation,” he said.
A physical Rising forward pack gave Skelton a good tune-up on Sunday, and in doing so, paved the way for a six-tries-to-two victory over the Stars.
Skelton was highly involved and looked for work, but by and large the big unit was pretty well contained.
On the surface that may not augur well for his starting chances, but stocked largely with Rebels players, the Rising are undoubtedly a quality outfit.
With Luke Jones and Sean McMahon powerful up front — and giving their own Spring Tour auditions — rising five-eighth Jack Debreczeni led the side impressively to a comprehensive victory.
Tall but agile, Debreczeni showed why the Rebels have stopped frantically searching for a No. 10 solution for next year’s Super Rugby season with some lovely touches out of the hand and off the boot.
Like round one, the Stars were competitive for the majority of the first half and only trailed 21-13 at half-time. But they were overrun by the superior strength and defensive systems of the Rising in the second, and the Melburnians ran in another three five-pointers to win with a bonus point.
“I am very happy with the win. I still think sometimes we had so much possession at times we didn’t know what to do with it,” Rising coach Sean Hedger.
“We have to get the balance right between wide plays and sticking to the basics”.